Role of FOXN1 in Xenopus Laevis Thymopoiesis

The study investigates the role of the transcription factor FOXN1 in thymopoiesis in the amphibian Xenopus laevis. Using CRISPR/Cas9, researchers generated a foxn1-deficient X. laevis model, which showed high mutational efficiency (30-90%) and resulted in about 25% of tadpoles exhibiting hypoplastic thymi. This disruption led to a significant reduction in T-cell markers and decreased CD3e staining in the spleen. Additionally, foxn1 mutations affected the innate immune response to Mycobacterium marinum infection, indicating a potential for X. laevis as a nonmammalian model for studying host-pathogen interactions and immune responses.