Mapping the thymus in the viscoelastic landscape of biological tissues

Abstract

The thymus plays a pivotal role in the generation of immunocompetent T cells. Although its function is dependent on its complex extracellular matrix, its 3D architecture and mechanical properties remain poorly characterised This knowledge gap limits efforts to model and engineer the organ, which is a critical step towards the development of strategies for the treatment of many haematological and autoimmune diseases. Here, we provide the first comprehensive multiscale dataset of bovine thymic extracellular matrix architecture and viscoelastic behaviour, including quantitiative descriptors such as relaxation times, instantaneous and equilibrium elastic moduli, storage and loss moduli, and spatial mechanical heterogeneity. Taken together, our data define the thymus as a compliant, highly dissipative viscoelastic organ with a fibrillar architecture. They also represent a unique database, which, for the first time, paves the way for quantitative thymus tissue engineering.