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Li L, Xu F, Han Y, Zeng J, Du S, Wang C. Thymic microenvironment's impact on immunosenescence. Immunol Res 2024:10.1007/s12026-024-09519-z. [PMID: 39042204 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-024-09519-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Age-related thymic involution is characterized by the loss of T cell development and the supporting epithelial network, which are replaced by adipose tissue. We previously showed that aging functionally impairs lymphohematopoietic progenitor cells, including thymic early T cell progenitors (ETPs), contributing to thymic involution. Considering that the thymic microenvironment is essential for thymocyte incubation, we aimed to investigate its role in age-related thymic involution and the mechanisms underlying these changes. The challenge in studying these processes led us to transplant T cell-depleted fetal thymus tissue into the kidney capsule of aged mice. This model allowed us to identify the mechanisms driving age-related changes in the thymic microenvironment and to assess whether these changes could be reversed. Flow cytometry was used to detect naïve T cells (CD62L+CD44-), including CD4 CD8 double-negative, double-positive, and single-positive T cells. Real-time PCR was used to detect and quantify signal-joint T cell receptor excision circles. We rearranged δRec-ΨJα in murine peripheral blood leukocytes to evaluate the thymic output of newly developed naïve T cells in the mice and gene expression in the thymus. Age-related thymic involution decreased naïve T cells and increased memory T cells, while fetal thymus transplantation improved thymic output and T cell production and reversed the impairment of thymopoiesis due to thymic involution in aged mice. Furthermore, the expression of key cytokines was restored and ETPs in the aged mice showed normal thymic T cell development. Our study suggests that degenerative changes in the thymic microenvironment are the primary cause of thymic dysfunction, leading to immunosenescence associated with age-related thymic involution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- Shenzhen Guangming District People's Hospital, 4253 Songbai Road, Matian Street, Guangming District, Shenzhen, 518106, Guangdong, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Shenzhen Guangming District People's Hospital, 4253 Songbai Road, Matian Street, Guangming District, Shenzhen, 518106, Guangdong, China
| | - Yi Han
- Shenzhen Guangming District People's Hospital, 4253 Songbai Road, Matian Street, Guangming District, Shenzhen, 518106, Guangdong, China
| | - Jun Zeng
- Shenzhen Guangming District People's Hospital, 4253 Songbai Road, Matian Street, Guangming District, Shenzhen, 518106, Guangdong, China
| | - Shan Du
- Shenzhen Guangming District People's Hospital, 4253 Songbai Road, Matian Street, Guangming District, Shenzhen, 518106, Guangdong, China
| | - Changshan Wang
- Shenzhen Guangming District People's Hospital, 4253 Songbai Road, Matian Street, Guangming District, Shenzhen, 518106, Guangdong, China.
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Structural and Functional Thymic Biomarkers Are Involved in the Pathogenesis of Thymic Epithelial Tumors: An Overview. IMMUNO 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/immuno2020025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The normal human thymus originates from the third branchial cleft as two paired anlages that descend into the thorax and fuse on the midline of the anterior–superior mediastinum. Alongside the epithelial and lymphoid components, different types of lymphoid accessory cells, stromal mesenchymal and endothelial cells migrate to, or develop in, the thymus. After reaching maximum development during early postnatal life, the human thymus decreases in size and lymphocyte output drops with age. However, thymic immunological functions persist, although they deteriorate progressively. Several major techniques were fundamental to increasing the knowledge of thymic development and function during embryogenesis, postnatal and adult life; these include immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, in vitro colony assays, transplantation in mice models, fetal organ cultures (FTOC), re-aggregated thymic organ cultures (RTOC), and whole-organ thymic scaffolds. The thymic morphological and functional characterization, first performed in the mouse, was then extended to humans. The purpose of this overview is to provide a report on selected structural and functional biomarkers of thymic epithelial cells (TEC) involved in thymus development and lymphoid cell maturation, and on the historical aspects of their characterization, with particular attention being paid to biomarkers also involved in Thymic Epithelial Tumor (TET) pathogenesis. Moreover, a short overview of targeted therapies in TET, based on currently available experimental and clinical data and on potential future advances will be proposed.
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Pievani A, Savoldelli R, Poelchen J, Mattioli E, Anselmi G, Girardot A, Utikal J, Bourdely P, Serafini M, Guermonprez P. Harnessing Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for the Engineering of Human Hematopoietic Niches. Front Immunol 2021; 12:631279. [PMID: 33790904 PMCID: PMC8006008 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.631279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue engineering opens multiple opportunities in regenerative medicine, drug testing, and modeling of the hematopoiesis in health and disease. Recapitulating the organization of physiological microenvironments supporting leukocyte development is essential to model faithfully the development of immune cells. Hematopoietic organs are shaped by spatially organized niches defined by multiple cellular contributions. A shared feature of immune niches is the presence of mesenchymal stromal cells endowed with unique roles in organizing niche development, maintenance, and function. Here, we review challenges and opportunities in harnessing stromal cells for the engineering of artificial immune niches and hematopoietic organoids recapitulating leukocyte ontogeny both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Pievani
- Department of Pediatrics, M. Tettamanti Research Center, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Savoldelli
- The Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, Centre for Inflammation Biology and Cancer Immunology, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Cancer Research UK King's Health Partner Cancer Centre, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Juliane Poelchen
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Elisa Mattioli
- The Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, Centre for Inflammation Biology and Cancer Immunology, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Cancer Research UK King's Health Partner Cancer Centre, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giorgio Anselmi
- MRC Molecular Hematology Unit, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alice Girardot
- Centre for Inflammation Research, CNRS ERL8252, INSERM1149, Hopital Bichat, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Jochen Utikal
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Pierre Bourdely
- Centre for Inflammation Research, CNRS ERL8252, INSERM1149, Hopital Bichat, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Marta Serafini
- Department of Pediatrics, M. Tettamanti Research Center, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Pierre Guermonprez
- Centre for Inflammation Research, CNRS ERL8252, INSERM1149, Hopital Bichat, Université de Paris, Paris, France
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Mendibil U, Ruiz-Hernandez R, Retegi-Carrion S, Garcia-Urquia N, Olalde-Graells B, Abarrategi A. Tissue-Specific Decellularization Methods: Rationale and Strategies to Achieve Regenerative Compounds. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E5447. [PMID: 32751654 PMCID: PMC7432490 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex network with multiple functions, including specific functions during tissue regeneration. Precisely, the properties of the ECM have been thoroughly used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine research, aiming to restore the function of damaged or dysfunctional tissues. Tissue decellularization is gaining momentum as a technique to obtain potentially implantable decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) with well-preserved key components. Interestingly, the tissue-specific dECM is becoming a feasible option to carry out regenerative medicine research, with multiple advantages compared to other approaches. This review provides an overview of the most common methods used to obtain the dECM and summarizes the strategies adopted to decellularize specific tissues, aiming to provide a helpful guide for future research development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Unai Mendibil
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; (U.M.); (R.R.-H.); (S.R.-C.)
- TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20009 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; (N.G.-U.); (B.O.-G.)
| | - Raquel Ruiz-Hernandez
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; (U.M.); (R.R.-H.); (S.R.-C.)
| | - Sugoi Retegi-Carrion
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; (U.M.); (R.R.-H.); (S.R.-C.)
| | - Nerea Garcia-Urquia
- TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20009 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; (N.G.-U.); (B.O.-G.)
| | - Beatriz Olalde-Graells
- TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20009 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; (N.G.-U.); (B.O.-G.)
| | - Ander Abarrategi
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; (U.M.); (R.R.-H.); (S.R.-C.)
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
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