VEGF inhibits T cell development and may contribute to tumor-induced immune suppression Running title: VEGF induces dramatic thymic atrophy

aDepartment of Cancer Biology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232 bH.Lee Moffitt Cancer Center at University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612 c-Department of Medicine, Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3258 Research Dr., Durham, NC 27710, USA dInstitute of Experimental Medicine, St.Petersburg, Russia. eMouse Pathology & Immunohistochemistry Core, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232