RNA-Sequencing Analysis of Type-I and Type-II Interferon Effects on an In-Vitro Human Thymic Epithelium Model

The thymus plays a critical role in instructing T cell immunity and establishing central tolerance, yet its therapeutic potential remains largely unexplored. Understanding the signals that govern thymic epithelial cell differentiation is essential for advancing regenerative applications. Here, we investigate the pathways that influence thymic epithelial development by introducing human recombinant interferon-alpha (IFNA2) and interferon-gamma (IFNG) during the final stage of differentiation in an in-vitro human thymic epithelium model. Using bulk RNA-sequencing, we examine signaling responses activated by interferons in the context of thymic development. Overall design: To investigate the role of interferon in thymic epithelial development, we performed bulk RNA sequencing on an in-vitro human thymic epithelium model, introducing human recombinant interferon-alpha (IFNA2) and interferon-gamma (IFNG) during the final stage of differentiation.