The age-related thymic involution has intrigued scientists since its first observations. This phenomenon is well-conserved across different species, but the reason why it exists is not clear since the thymus is a key organ in the immune system responsible for the maturation of immunocompetent T lymphocytes. As thymic function declines with age, it significantly affects the health of older individuals, leading to reduced responses to new pathogens, tumor cells, and vaccines. This impact was notably evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where a substantial number of elderly individuals succumbed to the disease. This chapter explores the characteristics of age-related thymic involution, including new findings using recently developed technologies. We also highlight emerging research trends aimed at rejuvenating thymus function.
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Age-Related Thymic Involution.
Adv Exp Med Biol
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Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The age-related thymic involution has intrigued scientists since its first observations. This phenomenon is well-conserved across different species, but the reason why it exists is not clear since the thymus is a key organ in the immune system responsible for the maturation of immunocompetent T lymphocytes. As thymic function declines with age, it significantly affects the health of older individuals, leading to reduced responses to new pathogens, tumor cells, and vaccines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeural regulation of the thymus: past, current, and future perspectives.
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March 2025
Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States.
The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ critical for the development of mature T cells from hematopoietic progenitors. A highly structured organ, the thymus contains distinct regions, precise cytoarchitecture, and molecular signals tightly regulating thymopoiesis. Although the above are well-understood, the structural and functional implications of thymic innervation are largely neglected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnhanced paracrine action of FGF21 in stromal cells delays thymic aging.
Nat Aging
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Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Age-related thymic involution precedes aging of all other organs in vertebrates and initiates the process of declining T cell diversity, which leads to eventual immune dysfunction. Whether FGF21, a liver-derived pro-longevity hormone that is also produced in thymic stroma, including by adipocytes, controls the mechanism of thymic demise is incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate that elevation of FGF21 in thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and in adipocytes protects against thymic aging, whereas conditional hepatic overexpression did not impact thymic biology in aged mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Immunosenescence: Modulation Through Interventions and Lifestyle Changes.
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Immunosenescence, the age-related decline in immune function, is a complex biological process with profound implications for health and longevity. This phenomenon, characterized by alterations in both innate and adaptive immunity, increases susceptibility to infections, reduces vaccine efficacy, and contributes to the development of age-related diseases. At the cellular level, immunosenescence manifests as decreased production of naive T and B cells, accumulation of memory and senescent cells, thymic involution, and dysregulated cytokine production.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRejuvenating the immune system.
Mol Oncol
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Molecular Carcinogenesis Group, Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
Rejuvenation of elementary immune system components has emerged as a promising strategy to deal with increased susceptibility to infections, cancers, autoimmune disorders, and low efficacy to vaccines, frequently accompanying aging. In this context, the thymus has gained significant attention. A recent study by Santamaria et al.
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