Surendra Gulla, Madhava C Reddy, Vajra C Reddy, Sriram Chitta, Manjula Bhanoori, Dakshayani Lomada
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引用次数: 4
Abstract
The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ, essential for the development of T-cells that will protect from invading pathogens, immune disorders, and cancer. The thymus decreases in size and cellularity with age referred to as thymus involution or atrophy. This involution causes decreased T-cell development and decreased naive T-cell emigration to the periphery, increased proportion of memory T cells, and a restricted, altered T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire. The changes in composition and function of the circulating T cell pool as a result of thymic involution led to increased susceptibility to infectious diseases including the recent COVID and a higher risk for autoimmune disorders and cancers. Thymic involution consisting of both structural and functional loss of the thymus has a deleterious effect on T cell development, T cell selection, and tolerance. The mechanisms which act on the structural (cortex and medulla) matrix of the thymus, the gradual accumulation of genetic mutations, and altered gene expressions may lead to immunosenescence as a result of thymus involution. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind thymic involution is critical for identifying diagnostic biomarkers and targets for treatment help to develop strategies to mitigate thymic involution-associated complications. This review is focused on the consequences of thymic involution in infections, immune disorders, and diseases, identifying potential checkpoints and potential approaches to sustain or restore the function of the thymus particularly in elderly and immune-compromised individuals.
期刊介绍:
This review journal provides the most current information on basic and translational research in immunology and related fields. In addition to invited reviews, the journal accepts for publication articles and editorials on relevant topics proposed by contributors. Each issue of International Reviews of Immunology contains both solicited and unsolicited review articles, editorials, and ''In-this-Issue'' highlights. The journal also hosts reviews that position the authors'' original work relative to advances in a given field, bridging the gap between annual reviews and the original research articles.
This review series is relevant to all immunologists, molecular biologists, microbiologists, translational scientists, industry researchers, and physicians who work in basic and clinical immunology, inflammatory and allergic diseases, vaccines, and additional topics relevant to medical research and drug development that connect immunology to disciplines such as oncology, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders.
Covered in International Reviews of Immunology: Basic and developmental immunology (innate and adaptive immunity; inflammation; and tumor and microbial immunology); Clinical research (mechanisms of disease in man pertaining to infectious diseases, autoimmunity, allergy, oncology / immunology); and Translational research (relevant to biomarkers, diagnostics, vaccines, and drug development).