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Pozzesi N, Fierabracci A, Thuy TT, Martelli MP, Liberati AM, Ayroldi E, Riccardi C, Delfino DV. Pharmacological modulation of caspase-8 in thymus-related medical conditions. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2014; 351:18-24. [PMID: 25060674 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.114.216572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The thymus is a lymphoid organ that governs the development of a diverse T-cell repertoire capable of defending against nonself-antigens and avoiding autoimmunity. However, the thymus can also succumb to different diseases. Hypertrophic diseases, such as thymomas, are typically associated with impairment of negative selection, which leads to autoimmune disease, or disruption of positive selection, which results in immunodeficiency. Hypotrophic diseases of the thymus can manifest during acute infections, cancer, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, or with aging. This condition leads to decreased immune function and can be treated by either replacing lost thymic tissue or by preventing thymic tissue death. Studies have demonstrated the critical role of caspase-8 in regulating apoptosis in the thymus. In this review, we discuss how pharmacological activation and inhibition of caspase-8 can be used to treat hypertrophic and hypotrophic diseases of the thymus, respectively, to improve its function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Pozzesi
- Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.)
| | - Alessandra Fierabracci
- Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.)
| | - Trinh Thy Thuy
- Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.)
| | - Maria Paola Martelli
- Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.)
| | - Anna Marina Liberati
- Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.)
| | - Emira Ayroldi
- Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.)
| | - Carlo Riccardi
- Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.)
| | - Domenico V Delfino
- Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.)
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