Somatotrope GHRH/GH/IGF-1 axis at the crossroads between immunosenescence and frailty.

Immunosenescence, characterized by complex modifications of immunity with age, could be related to frailty syndrome in elderly individuals, leading to an inadequate response to minimal aggression. Functional decline (i.e.

Expression of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis during Balb/c thymus ontogeny and effects of growth hormone upon ex vivo T cell differentiation.

Aims: We address the question of the expression and the role of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) axis in the thymus.

Methods: Using RT-qPCR, the expression profile of various components of the somatotrope GH/IGF axis was measured in different thymic cell types and during thymus embryogenesis in Balb/c mice. The effect of GH on T cell differentiation was explored via thymic organotypic culture.

The role of the thymus in the integrated evolution of the recombinase-dependent adaptive immune response and the neuroendocrine system.

Before being able to react against infectious non-self-antigens, the immune system has to be educated in recognition and tolerance of neuroendocrine self-proteins. This sophisticated educational process takes place only in the thymus. The development of an autoimmune response directed to neuroendocrine glands has been shown to result from a thymus dysfunction in programming immunological self-tolerance to neuroendocrine-related antigens.

Transcriptomic biomarkers of the response of hospitalized geriatric patients admitted with heart failure. Comparison to hospitalized geriatric patients with infectious diseases or hip fracture.

The abundance of a preselection of transcripts involved in inflammation, immunosenescence and stress response was compared between PBMC of healthy aged donors and aged patients in acute phase of heart failure and at recovery. This study identified 22 transcripts differentially abundant in acute phase of heart failure versus healthy aged subjects. Transcripts involved in inflammation and oxidative stress were more abundant.

Differentially abundant transcripts in PBMC of hospitalized geriatric patients with hip fracture compared to healthy aged controls.

The abundance of a selection of transcript species involved in inflammation, immunosenescence and stress response was compared between PBMC of 35 geriatric patients with hip fracture in acute phase (days 2-4 after hospitalization) or convalescence phase (days 7-10) and 28 healthy aged controls. Twenty-nine differentially abundant transcripts were identified in acute phase versus healthy ageing. Twelve of these transcripts remained differentially abundant in convalescence phase, and 22 were similarly differentially abundant in acute phase of geriatric infectious diseases.