TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of sex steroids and gonadectomy in the control of thymic involution
AU - Hince, Melanie Natasha
AU - Sakkal, Samy
AU - Vlahos, Katerina
AU - Dudakov, Jarrod Andrew
AU - Boyd, Richard Lennox
AU - Chidgey, Ann Patricia
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - A major underlying cause for aging of the immune system is the structural and functional atrophy of the thymus, and associated decline in T cell genesis. This loss of naive T cells reduces adaptive immunity to new stimuli and precipitates a peripheral bias to memory cells against prior antigens. Whilst multiple mechanisms may contribute to this process, the temporal alliance of thymic decline with puberty has implicated a causative role for sex steroids. Accordingly ablation of sex steroids induces profound thymic rejuvenation. Although the thymus retains some, albeit highly limited, function in healthy adults, this is insufficient for resurrecting the T cell pool following cytoablative treatments such as chemo- and radiation-therapy and AIDS. Increased risk of opportunistic infections and cancer relapse or appearance, are a direct consequence. Temporary sex steroid ablation may thus provide a clinically effective means to regenerate the thymus and immune system in immunodeficiency states.
AB - A major underlying cause for aging of the immune system is the structural and functional atrophy of the thymus, and associated decline in T cell genesis. This loss of naive T cells reduces adaptive immunity to new stimuli and precipitates a peripheral bias to memory cells against prior antigens. Whilst multiple mechanisms may contribute to this process, the temporal alliance of thymic decline with puberty has implicated a causative role for sex steroids. Accordingly ablation of sex steroids induces profound thymic rejuvenation. Although the thymus retains some, albeit highly limited, function in healthy adults, this is insufficient for resurrecting the T cell pool following cytoablative treatments such as chemo- and radiation-therapy and AIDS. Increased risk of opportunistic infections and cancer relapse or appearance, are a direct consequence. Temporary sex steroid ablation may thus provide a clinically effective means to regenerate the thymus and immune system in immunodeficiency states.
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=18294626
M3 - Article
SN - 0008-8749
VL - 252
SP - 122
EP - 138
JO - Cellular Immunology
JF - Cellular Immunology
IS - 1-2
ER -