1
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Lagou MK, Karagiannis GS. Obesity-induced thymic involution and cancer risk. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 93:3-19. [PMID: 37088128 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Declining thymic functions associated either with old age (i.e., age-related thymic involution), or with acute involution as a result of stress, infectious disease, or cytoreductive therapies (e.g., chemotherapy/radiotherapy), have been associated with cancer development. A key mechanism underlying such increased cancer risk is the thymus-dependent debilitation of adaptive immunity, which is responsible for orchestrating immunoediting mechanisms and tumor immune surveillance. In the past few years, a blooming set of evidence has intriguingly linked obesity with cancer development and progression. The majority of such studies has focused on obesity-driven chronic inflammation, steroid/sex hormone and adipokine production, and hyperinsulinemia, as principal factors affecting the tumor microenvironment and driving the development of primary malignancy. However, experimental observations about the negative impact of obesity on T cell development and maturation have existed for more than half a century. Here, we critically discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms of obesity-driven thymic involution as a previously underrepresented intermediary pathology leading to cancer development and progression. This knowledge could be especially relevant in the context of childhood obesity, because impaired thymic function in young individuals leads to immune system abnormalities, and predisposes to various pediatric cancers. A thorough understanding behind the molecular and cellular circuitries governing obesity-induced thymic involution could therefore help towards the rationalized development of targeted thymic regeneration strategies for obese individuals at high risk of cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria K Lagou
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis Program, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - George S Karagiannis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis Program, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Integrated Imaging Program for Cancer Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
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2
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Changes in expression of nuclear factor kappa B subunits in the ovine thymus during early pregnancy. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17683. [PMID: 36271124 PMCID: PMC9587240 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21632-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a pregnant maternal immunological tolerance that protects the fetus and promotes its growth, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) family participates in the regulation of innate immune and adaptive immune responses. The thymus is related to establishing central tolerance, and early pregnancy has effects on expression of a good number of genes and proteins in the maternal thymus in sheep. However, it is unclear whether early pregnancy changes expression of NF-κB subunits in the ovine thymus. In this study, the thymic samples were collected from day 16 of non-pregnant ewes, and days 13, 16 and 25 of pregnant ewes, and the expression of NF-κB members (NF-κB1, NF-κB2, RelA, RelB and c-Rel) was analyzed through real-time quantitative PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. The results showed that c-Rel mRNA and protein upregulated at day 25 of pregnancy, and NF-κB1 mRNA and proteins increased at days 16 and 25 of pregnancy, and RelB mRNA and proteins enhanced during early pregnancy. However, expression levels of NF-κB2 and RelA were decreased during early pregnancy, but upregulated from day 13 to 25 of pregnancy. In addition, the RelA protein was located in the epithelial reticular cells, capillaries and thymic corpuscles. This paper reported for the first time that early pregnancy induced expression of NF-κB1, RelB and c-Rel, but inhibited expression of NF-κB2 and RelA in the maternal thymus during early pregnancy, which is involved in the central immune tolerance, and helpful for successful pregnancy in sheep.
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3
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Developmental Exposure to Endocrine Disrupter DDT Interferes with Age-Related Involution of Thymus. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126678. [PMID: 35743120 PMCID: PMC9223823 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the development and involution of the immune system is a possible reason for the increased incidence of disorders associated with inappropriate immune function. The thymus is a lymphoid and also an endocrine organ, and, accordingly, its development and functioning may be impaired by endocrine disruptors. The aim was to evaluate age-related thymus involution in mature rats exposed to the endocrine disruptor DDT during prenatal and postnatal ontogeny. Methodology included in vivo experiment on male Wistar rats exposed to low doses of DDT during prenatal and postnatal development and morphological assessment of thymic involution, including the immunohistochemical detection of proliferating thymocytes. The study was carried out at the early stage of involution. Results: DDT-exposed rats exhibited a normal anatomy, and the relative weight of the thymus was within the control ranges. Histological and immunohistochemical examinations revealed increased cellularity of the cortex and the medulla, higher content of lymphoblasts, and more intensive proliferation rate of thymocytes compared to the control. Evaluation of thymic epithelial cells revealed a higher rate of thymic corpuscles formation. Conclusion: The data obtained indicate that endocrine disrupter DDT disturbs postnatal development of the thymus. Low-dose exposure to DDT during ontogeny does not suppress growth rate but violates the developmental program of the thymus by slowing down the onset of age-related involution and maintaining high cell proliferation rate. It may result in excessive formation of thymus-dependent areas in peripheral lymphoid organs and altered immune response.
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4
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Ucciferri CC, Dunn SE. Effect of puberty on the immune system: Relevance to multiple sclerosis. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:1059083. [PMID: 36533239 PMCID: PMC9755749 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.1059083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Puberty is a dynamic period marked by changing levels of sex hormones, the development of secondary sexual characteristics and reproductive maturity. This period has profound effects on various organ systems, including the immune system. The critical changes that occur in the immune system during pubertal onset have been shown to have implications for autoimmune conditions, including Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is rare prior to puberty but can manifest in children after puberty. This disease also has a clear female preponderance that only arises following pubertal onset, highlighting a potential role for sex hormones in autoimmunity. Early onset of puberty has also been shown to be a risk factor for MS. The purpose of this review is to overview the evidence that puberty regulates MS susceptibility and disease activity. Given that there is a paucity of studies that directly evaluate the effects of puberty on the immune system, we also discuss how the immune system is different in children and mice of pre- vs. post-pubertal ages and describe how gonadal hormones may regulate these immune mechanisms. We present evidence that puberty enhances the expression of co-stimulatory molecules and cytokine production by type 2 dendritic cells (DC2s) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), increases T helper 1 (Th1), Th17, and T follicular helper immunity, and promotes immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibody production. Overall, this review highlights how the immune system undergoes a functional maturation during puberty, which has the potential to explain the higher prevalence of MS and other autoimmune diseases seen in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen C Ucciferri
- Department of Immunology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shannon E Dunn
- Department of Immunology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
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5
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Jalal Z, Bakour M, Lyoussi B. Medicinal Plants and Zinc: Impact on COVID-19 Pandemic. ScientificWorldJournal 2021; 2021:9632034. [PMID: 34602868 PMCID: PMC8483924 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9632034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The world is currently grappling with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The infection can cause fever, a dry cough, fatigue, severe pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, and in some cases death. There is currently no effective antiviral SARS-CoV-2 drug. To reduce the number of infections and deaths, it is critical to focus on strengthening immunity. This review aims to conduct a comprehensive search on the previous studies using Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Medline, PubMed, and Scopus for the collection of research papers based on the role of zinc in the immune system, the antiviral activity of zinc, the effect of zinc supplementation in respiratory infections, the therapeutic approaches against viral infections based on medicinal plants, and the role of plants' bioactive molecules in fighting viral infections. In conclusion, we highlighted the pivotal role of zinc in antiviral immunity and we suggested the bioactive molecules derived from medicinal plants as a search matrix for the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zineb Jalal
- Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ). Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fez, Morocco
| | - Meryem Bakour
- Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ). Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fez, Morocco
| | - Badiaa Lyoussi
- Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ). Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fez, Morocco
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6
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Duah M, Li L, Shen J, Lan Q, Pan B, Xu K. Thymus Degeneration and Regeneration. Front Immunol 2021; 12:706244. [PMID: 34539637 PMCID: PMC8442952 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.706244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune system’s ability to resist the invasion of foreign pathogens and the tolerance to self-antigens are primarily centered on the efficient functions of the various subsets of T lymphocytes. As the primary organ of thymopoiesis, the thymus performs a crucial role in generating a self-tolerant but diverse repertoire of T cell receptors and peripheral T cell pool, with the capacity to recognize a wide variety of antigens and for the surveillance of malignancies. However, cells in the thymus are fragile and sensitive to changes in the external environment and acute insults such as infections, chemo- and radiation-therapy, resulting in thymic injury and degeneration. Though the thymus has the capacity to self-regenerate, it is often insufficient to reconstitute an intact thymic function. Thymic dysfunction leads to an increased risk of opportunistic infections, tumor relapse, autoimmunity, and adverse clinical outcome. Thus, exploiting the mechanism of thymic regeneration would provide new therapeutic options for these settings. This review summarizes the thymus’s development, factors causing thymic injury, and the strategies for improving thymus regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell Duah
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Lingling Li
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jingyi Shen
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Qiu Lan
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Bin Pan
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Kailin Xu
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
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7
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Mittelbrunn M, Kroemer G. Hallmarks of T cell aging. Nat Immunol 2021; 22:687-698. [PMID: 33986548 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-021-00927-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The aged adaptive immune system is characterized by progressive dysfunction as well as increased autoimmunity. This decline is responsible for elevated susceptibility to infection and cancer, as well as decreased vaccination efficacy. Recent evidence indicates that CD4+ T cell-intrinsic alteratins contribute to chronic inflammation and are sufficient to accelerate an organism-wide aging phenotype, supporting the idea that T cell aging plays a major role in body-wide deterioration. In this Review, we propose ten molecular hallmarks to represent common denominators of T cell aging. These hallmarks are grouped into four primary hallmarks (thymic involution, mitochondrial dysfunction, genetic and epigenetic alterations, and loss of proteostasis) and four secondary hallmarks (reduction of the TCR repertoire, naive-memory imbalance, T cell senescence, and lack of effector plasticity), and together they explain the manifestation of the two integrative hallmarks (immunodeficiency and inflammaging). A major challenge now is weighing the relative impact of these hallmarks on T cell aging and understanding their interconnections, with the final goal of defining molecular targets for interventions in the aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Mittelbrunn
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain. .,Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le cancer, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, Inserm U1138, Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France. .,Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France. .,Pôle de Biologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France. .,Suzhou Institute for Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Suzhou, China. .,Karolinska Institute, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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8
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Paiola M, Moreira C, Hétru J, Duflot A, Pinto PIS, Scapigliati G, Knigge T, Monsinjon T. Prepubertal gonad investment modulates thymus function: evidence in a teleost fish. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:238091. [PMID: 33789987 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.238576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Thymus plasticity following gonadectomy or sex hormone replacement has long since exemplified sex hormone effects on the immune system in mammals and, to a lesser extent, in 'lower vertebrates', including amphibians and fish. Nevertheless, the underlying physiological significances as well as the ontogenetic establishment of this crosstalk remain largely unknown. Here, we used a teleost fish, the European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, to investigate: (1) whether the regulation of thymus plasticity relies on resource trade-off with somatic growth and reproductive investment and (2) if the gonad-thymus interaction takes place during gonadal differentiation and development. Because gonadal development and, supposedly, thymus function in sea bass depend on environmental changes associated with the winter season, we evaluated thymus changes (foxn1 expression, and thymocyte and T cell content) in juvenile D. labrax raised for 1 year under either constant or fluctuating photoperiod and temperature. Importantly, in both conditions, intensive gonadal development following sex differentiation coincided with a halt of thymus growth, while somatic growth continued. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing that gonadal development during prepuberty regulates thymus plasticity. This finding may provide an explanation for the initiation of the thymus involution related to ageing in mammals. Comparing fixed and variable environmental conditions, our work also demonstrates that the extent of the effects on the thymus, which are related to reproduction, depend on ecophysiological conditions, rather than being directly related to sexual maturity and sex hormone levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Paiola
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
| | - Catarina Moreira
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
| | - Julie Hétru
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
| | - Aurélie Duflot
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
| | - Patricia I S Pinto
- Laboratory of Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, CCMAR - Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Giuseppe Scapigliati
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Thomas Knigge
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
| | - Tiphaine Monsinjon
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
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9
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Granadier D, Iovino L, Kinsella S, Dudakov JA. Dynamics of thymus function and T cell receptor repertoire breadth in health and disease. Semin Immunopathol 2021; 43:119-134. [PMID: 33608819 PMCID: PMC7894242 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-021-00840-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
T cell recognition of unknown antigens relies on the tremendous diversity of the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire; generation of which can only occur in the thymus. TCR repertoire breadth is thus critical for not only coordinating the adaptive response against pathogens but also for mounting a response against malignancies. However, thymic function is exquisitely sensitive to negative stimuli, which can come in the form of acute insult, such as that caused by stress, infection, or common cancer therapies; or chronic damage such as the progressive decline in thymic function with age. Whether it be prolonged T cell deficiency after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) or constriction in the breadth of the peripheral TCR repertoire with age; these insults result in poor adaptive immune responses. In this review, we will discuss the importance of thymic function for generation of the TCR repertoire and how acute and chronic thymic damage influences immune health. We will also discuss methods that are used to measure thymic function in patients and strategies that have been developed to boost thymic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Granadier
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lorenzo Iovino
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sinéad Kinsella
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jarrod A Dudakov
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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10
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Akatsu H. Exploring the Effect of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Postbiotics in Strengthening Immune Activity in the Elderly. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:136. [PMID: 33567790 PMCID: PMC7915329 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccination is the easiest way to stimulate the immune system to confer protection from disease. However, the inefficacy of vaccination in the elderly, especially those under nutritional control such as individuals receiving artificial nutrition after cerebral infarction or during dementia, has led to the search for an adjuvant to augment the acquired immune response in this population. The cross-talk between the gut microbiota and the host immune system is gaining attention as a potential adjuvant for vaccines. Probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics, which are commonly used to modulate gut health, may enhance the immune response and the effectiveness of vaccination in the elderly. This review summarizes the use of these gut modulators as adjuvants to boost both the innate and acquired immune responses in the elderly under nutritional control. Although the clinical evidence on this topic is limited and the initial findings await clarification through future studies with large sample sizes and proper study designs, they highlight the necessity for additional research in this field, especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which is disproportionately affecting the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyasu Akatsu
- Department of Community-Based Medical Education, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
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11
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Zhang L, Zhao Z, Wang Y, Li N, Cao N, Yang L. Changes in expression of interferon-stimulated genes and ubiquitin activating enzyme E1-like in ovine thymus during early pregnancy. Anim Reprod 2020; 17:e20190134. [PMID: 32714456 PMCID: PMC7375869 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2019-0134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
As the main signal for the maternal recognition in ruminants, interferon-tau (IFNT) stimulates expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in uterus and many extrauterine tissues. However, it is unclear that early pregnancy induces expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), myxovirusresistance 1 (Mx1), interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) and ubiquitin activating enzyme E1-like protein (UBE1L) in maternal thymus. In this study, ovine thymuses were sampled on day 16 of the estrous cycle and on days 13, 16 and 25 of gestation, and the expression of STAT1, Mx1, IP-10 and UBE1L was detected by real-time quantitative PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The results revealed that the expression of STAT1 and IP-10 reached peaks on day 16 of pregnancy, and expression of Mx1 was enhanced on day 25 of pregnancy, and STAT1 protein was located in the epithelial reticular cells, capillaries and thymic corpuscles. However, expression of UBE1L was declined during early pregnancy. In conclusion, early pregnancy influences expression of STAT1, Mx1, IP-10 and UBE1L in maternal thymus, which may participate in regulation of maternal immune tolerance during early pregnancy in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leying Zhang
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Zimo Zhao
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Yujiao Wang
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Nan Cao
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Ling Yang
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
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12
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Effect of early pregnancy on the expression of prostaglandin synthases in the ovine thymus. Theriogenology 2019; 136:166-171. [PMID: 31265945 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.06.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Thymus is a primary lymphoid organ, must adapt to the presence of fetal alloantigens. Prostaglandins (PGs) have diverse effects to activate or inhibit the immune response, but effects of early pregnancy on the expression of PG synthases in ovine maternal thymus are unclear. In this study, ovine thymic samples were obtained at day 16 of the estrous cycle, and days 13, 16 and 25 of pregnancy. The expression of PG synthases, including cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1), COX-2, PGE2 synthase (PTGES), and a prostaglandin F2α synthase (Aldo-keto reductase family 1, member B1, AKR1B1), was evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis. In addition, the thymus/body ratio was also calculated. Our results showed that the expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein, AKR1B1 mRNA and dimer were up-regulated on day 25 of pregnancy (P < 0.05), and expression of COX-1, PTGES mRNA and protein, AKR1B1 monomer and thymus/body ratio were similar at different stages of pregnancy and the estrous cycle. The immunohistochemistry results showed that the COX-2 and AKR1B1 proteins were located in the stromal cells, capillaries and thymic corpuscles. This is the first study to report that expression of COX-2 and AKR1B1 dimer is up-regulated in the maternal thymus during early pregnancy, suggesting that early pregnancy exerts its effects on maternal thymus, which is involved in immunomodulation during early pregnancy in sheep.
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13
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Zhang L, Zhao Z, Mi H, Liu B, Wang B, Yang L. Modulation of Helper T Cytokines in Thymus during Early Pregnancy in Ewes. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9050245. [PMID: 31100843 PMCID: PMC6563054 DOI: 10.3390/ani9050245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The thymus is a main organ of the immune system. Immune tolerance exists in maternal immune system during pregnancy. Helper T (Th)1 and Th2 cytokines regulate the functions of immune system. We found that early pregnancy affected the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in maternal thymus in sheep, which may be beneficial for normal pregnancy. Abstract There is an immune tolerance in maternal immune system during pregnancy, and thymus is a main organ of the immune system. Helper T (Th)1 and Th2 cytokines are involved in the regulation of immune system, but the modulation of Th cytokines in the thymus during early pregnancy is unclear in ewes. Thymuses were collected on day 16 of the estrous cycle, and on days 13, 16, and 25 of pregnancy in ewes. qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the thymuses. There was a peak in the expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) on day 16 of pregnancy, an upregulation of tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-β), and a sustained expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-4. Furthermore, there was a peak in the expression of IL-6 on day 13 of pregnancy, no expression of IL-6 on day 16 of the estrous cycle and day 25 of pregnancy, and an upregulation of IL-5 and IL-10 in the thymuses during early pregnancy. The immunohistochemistry results revealed that the IFN-γ and IL-6 proteins were limited to the stromal cells, capillaries, and thymic corpuscles. In conclusion, early pregnancy influenced the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines of maternal thymus in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leying Zhang
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056021, China.
| | - Zimo Zhao
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056021, China.
| | - Hao Mi
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056021, China.
| | - Baoliang Liu
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056021, China.
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056021, China.
| | - Ling Yang
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056021, China.
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14
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Shi M, Zhou H, Lei M, Chen L, Zellmer L, He Y, Yang W, Xu N, Liao DJ. Spontaneous Cancers, But Not Many Induced Ones in Animals, Resemble Semi-New Organisms that Possess a Unique Programmed Cell Death Mode Different from Apoptosis, Senescent Death, Necrosis and Stress-Induced Cell Death. J Cancer 2018; 9:4726-4735. [PMID: 30588258 PMCID: PMC6299389 DOI: 10.7150/jca.26502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
There are four basic cell death modes in animals, i.e. physiological senescent death (SD) and apoptosis as well as pathological necrosis and stress-induced cell death (SICD). There have been numerous publications describing “apoptosis” in cancer, mostly focused on killing cancer cells using radio- or chemo-therapy, with few on exploring how cancer cells die naturally without such treatments. Spontaneous benign or malignant neoplasms are immortal and autonomous, but they still retain some allegiance to their parental tissue or organ and thus are still somewhat controlled by the patient's body. Because of these properties of immortality, semi-autonomy, and semi-allegiance to the patient's body, spontaneous tumors have no redundant cells and resemble “semi-new organisms” parasitizing the patients, becoming a unique tissue type possessing a hitherto unannotated cell death mode besides SD, apoptosis, necrosis and SICD. Particularly, apoptosis aims to expunge redundant cells, whereas this new mode does not. In contrast to spontaneous tumors, many histologically malignant tumors induced in experimental animals, before they reach an advanced stage, regress after withdrawal of the inducer. This mortal and non-autonomous nature disqualifies these animal lesions as authentic neoplasms and as semi-new organisms but makes them a good tissue type for apoptosis studies. Ruminating over cell death in spontaneous cancers and many inauthentic tumors induced in animals from these new slants makes us realize that “whether cancer cells undergo apoptosis” is not an easy question with a simple answer. Our answer is that cancer cells have an uncharacterized programmed cell death mode, which is not apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjun Shi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Haiyan Zhou
- Clinical Research Center, Guizhou Medical University Hospital, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Mingjuan Lei
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Lichan Chen
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Lucas Zellmer
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, 435 E. River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Yan He
- Key Lab of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases of the Ministry of Education of China at Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Wenxiu Yang
- Department of Pathology, Guizhou Medical University Hospital, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou province, China
| | - Ningzhi Xu
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Dezhong Joshua Liao
- Key Lab of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases of the Ministry of Education of China at Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou Province, China.,Department of Pathology, Guizhou Medical University Hospital, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou province, China
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15
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Dou X, Chen L, Lei M, Zellmer L, Jia Q, Ling P, He Y, Yang W, Liao DJ. Evaluating the Remote Control of Programmed Cell Death, with or without a Compensatory Cell Proliferation. Int J Biol Sci 2018; 14:1800-1812. [PMID: 30443184 PMCID: PMC6231223 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.26962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms and their different component levels, whether organelle, cellular or other, come by birth and go by death, and the deaths are often balanced by new births. Evolution on the one hand has built demise program(s) in cells of organisms but on the other hand has established external controls on the program(s). For instance, evolution has established death program(s) in animal cells so that the cells can, when it is needed, commit apoptosis or senescent death (SD) in physiological situations and stress-induced cell death (SICD) in pathological situations. However, these programmed cell deaths are not predominantly regulated by the cells that do the dying but, instead, are controlled externally and remotely by the cells' superior(s), i.e. their host tissue or organ or even the animal's body. Currently, it is still unclear whether a cell has only one death program or has several programs respectively controlling SD, apoptosis and SICD. In animals, apoptosis exterminates, in a physiological manner, healthy but no-longer needed cells to avoid cell redundancy, whereas suicidal SD and SICD, like homicidal necrosis, terminate ill but useful cells, which may be followed by regeneration of the live cells and by scar formation to heal the damaged organ or tissue. Therefore, “who dies” clearly differentiates apoptosis from SD, SICD and necrosis. In animals, apoptosis can occur only in those cell types that retain a lifelong ability of proliferation and never occurs in those cell types that can no longer replicate in adulthood. In cancer cells, SICD is strengthened, apoptosis is dramatically weakened while SD has been lost. Most published studies professed to be about apoptosis are actually about SICD, which has four basic and well-articulated pathways involving caspases or involving pathological alterations in the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticula, or lysosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xixi Dou
- Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceuticals, Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jinan 250101, Shandong Province, P.R. China.,Technology Center, Shandong Freda Pharmaceutical Group, Jinan 250101, Shandong Province, P.R. China
| | - Lichan Chen
- College of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, Fujian Province, P.R. China
| | - Mingjuan Lei
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Lucas Zellmer
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, 435 E. River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Qingwen Jia
- Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceuticals, Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jinan 250101, Shandong Province, P.R. China
| | - Peixue Ling
- Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceuticals, Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jinan 250101, Shandong Province, P.R. China.,Technology Center, Shandong Freda Pharmaceutical Group, Jinan 250101, Shandong Province, P.R. China
| | - Yan He
- Key Lab of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases of the Ministry of Education of China in Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou Province, P.R. China
| | - Wenxiu Yang
- Department of Pathology, Guizhou Medical University Hospital, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou province, P.R. China
| | - Dezhong Joshua Liao
- Key Lab of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases of the Ministry of Education of China in Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou Province, P.R. China.,Department of Pathology, Guizhou Medical University Hospital, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou province, P.R. China
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16
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Changes in expression of ISG15, progesterone receptor and progesterone-induced blocking factor in ovine thymus during early pregnancy. Theriogenology 2018; 121:153-159. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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17
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Genetic and non-genetic determinants of thymic epithelial cell number and function. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10314. [PMID: 28871142 PMCID: PMC5583284 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10746-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is the site of T cell development in vertebrates. In general, the output of T cells is determined by the number of thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and their relative thymopoietic activity. Here, we show that the thymopoietic activity of TECs differs dramatically between individual mouse strains. Moreover, in males of some strains, TECs perform better on a per cell basis than their counterparts in females; in other strains, this situation is reversed. Genetic crosses indicate that TEC numbers and thymopoietic capacity are independently controlled. Long-term analysis of functional parameters of TECs after castration provides evidence that the number of Foxn1-expressing TECs directly correlates with thymopoietic activity. Our study highlights potential complications that can arise when comparing parameters of TEC biology across different genetic backgrounds; these could affect the interpretation of the outcomes of interventions aimed at modulating thymic activity in genetically diverse populations, such as humans.
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18
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Csaba G. The Role of Brain –Pineal –Thymus System in the Determination of Lifespan: The Autoimmune Aging Theory. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.3233/nib-160118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- G. Csaba
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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19
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Effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone vaccination on T lymphocyte changes in male rats. J Reprod Immunol 2017; 120:1-7. [PMID: 28196761 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to detect the effect of immunization against gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on cell-meditated immunity. Three-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=32) were randomly and equally assigned to two groups: 1) GnRH-tandem-ovalbumin immunized group; and 2) the control group (injected with an equivalent Al(OH)3 adjuvant). Blood samples were collected at two-week intervals to assess the level of GnRH-specific antibodies and testosterone. Moreover, blood and thymus samples were also collected to analyze the T lymphocyte subpopulations one and two months after the last booster immunization. T lymphocyte immunity against GnRH was activated during the first month post-immunization as exhibited by increased numbers of CD3+ (P<0.05) and CD4+ (P<0.05)T lymphocytes following testosterone suppression (P<0.01), which was then restored and maintained at appropriate levels in the second month. In contrast, the differentiation of T lymphocytes in the thymus was reduced during the first month after immunization as exhibited by the significant decreased number of CD3+ (P<0.05) cells, followed by the restoration and heightened numbers at later time points for both the number of CD3+ (P<0.05) and CD4+ (P<0.01)T lymphocytes. These results suggest that immunization against GnRH interferes with the number of lymphocytes during the early time points following immunization. The number of T lymphocytes initially decreased in the peripheral blood following immunization, but was replenished by newly exported cells from the thymus which eventually restored the T lymphocytes to normal levels.
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20
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Taves MD, Hamden JE, Soma KK. Local glucocorticoid production in lymphoid organs of mice and birds: Functions in lymphocyte development. Horm Behav 2017; 88:4-14. [PMID: 27818220 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Circulating glucocorticoids (GCs) are powerful regulators of immunity. Stress-induced GC secretion by the adrenal glands initially enhances and later suppresses the immune response. GC targets include lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system, which are well known for their sensitivity to GCs. Less appreciated, however, is that GCs are locally produced in lymphoid organs, such as the thymus, where GCs play a critical role in selection of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) repertoire. Here, we review the roles of systemic and locally-produced GCs in T lymphocyte development, which has been studied primarily in laboratory mice. By antagonizing TCR signaling in developing T cells, thymus-derived GCs promote selection of T cells with stronger TCR signaling. This results in increased T cell-mediated immune responses to a range of antigens. We then compare local and systemic GC patterns in mice to those in several bird species. Taken together, these studies suggest that a combination of adrenal and lymphoid GC production might function to adaptively regulate lymphocyte development and selection, and thus antigen-specific immune reactivity, to optimize survival under different environmental conditions. Future studies should examine how lymphoid GC patterns vary across other vertebrates, how GCs function in B lymphocyte development in the bone marrow, spleen, and the avian bursa of Fabricius, and whether GCs adaptively program immunity in free-living animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Taves
- Dept of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada; Dept of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 4200-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Jordan E Hamden
- Dept of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada; Dept of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 4200-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Kiran K Soma
- Dept of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada; Dept of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 4200-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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21
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Abstract
The thymus develops from an endocrine area of the foregut, and retains the ancient potencies of this region. However, later it is populated by bone marrow originated lymphatic elements and forms a combined organ, which is a central part of the immune system as well as an influential element of the endocrine orchestra. Thymus produces self-hormones (thymulin, thymosin, thymopentin, and thymus humoral factor), which are participating in the regulation of immune cell transformation and selection, and also synthesizes hormones similar to that of the other endocrine glands such as melatonin, neuropeptides, and insulin, which are transported by the immune cells to the sites of requests (packed transport). Thymic (epithelial and immune) cells also have receptors for hormones which regulate them. This combined organ, which is continuously changing from birth to senescence seems to be a pacemaker of life. This function is basically regulated by the selection of self-responsive thymocytes as their complete destruction helps the development (up to puberty) and their gradual release in case of weakened control (after puberty) causes the erosion of cells and intercellular material, named aging. This means that during aging, self-destructive and non-protective immune activities are manifested under the guidance of the involuting thymus, causing the continuous irritation of cells and organs. Possibly the pineal body is the main regulator of the pacemaker, the neonatal removal of which results in atrophy of thymus and wasting disease and its later corrosion causes the insufficiency of thymus. The co-involution of pineal and thymus could determine the aging and the time of death without external intervention; however, external factors can negatively influence both of them.
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Affiliation(s)
- György Csaba
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University , Budapest, Hungary
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22
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Snyder PW, Everds NE, Craven WA, Werner J, Tannehill-Gregg SH, Guzman RE. Maturity-related Variability of the Thymus in Cynomolgus Monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Toxicol Pathol 2016; 44:874-91. [PMID: 27226125 DOI: 10.1177/0192623316649258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Terminal body weights (TBWs), thymus weight parameters, and thymus morphology were retrospectively evaluated in 453 cynomolgus monkeys assigned to control groups on nonclinical toxicity studies. Morphology of bone, ovary, and testis/epididymis were used to determine maturity status of individual animals. There was no correlation between TBW and thymus weight (absolute and/or relative to TBW or brain weight). Thymus weight parameters and grades of decreased lymphocytes in the thymus were highly variable in immature animals compared to mature animals. There was also high (up to 11-fold) variability of thymus weight parameters within a given control group on the same study (generally 3 or 4 animals per sex). Several parameters evaluated had more pronounced age-related changes in males when compared to females. Our results demonstrate the inherent variability of thymus weight parameters and morphologic observations for cynomolgus monkeys on toxicology studies. Changes in thymus parameters in cynomolgus monkeys are unreliable indicators of immunomodulation or immunotoxicity in the absence of other relevant findings. Therefore, the thymus parameters commonly evaluated in preclinical safety assessments should not be the primary data set used to determine the presence of a direct test article-related effect on the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul W Snyder
- Experimental Pathology Laboratories, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | | | - W A Craven
- Amgen Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
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23
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Dragin N, Bismuth J, Cizeron-Clairac G, Biferi MG, Berthault C, Serraf A, Nottin R, Klatzmann D, Cumano A, Barkats M, Le Panse R, Berrih-Aknin S. Estrogen-mediated downregulation of AIRE influences sexual dimorphism in autoimmune diseases. J Clin Invest 2016; 126:1525-37. [PMID: 26999605 PMCID: PMC4811157 DOI: 10.1172/jci81894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases affect 5% to 8% of the population, and females are more susceptible to these diseases than males. Here, we analyzed human thymic transcriptome and revealed sex-associated differences in the expression of tissue-specific antigens that are controlled by the autoimmune regulator (AIRE), a key factor in central tolerance. We hypothesized that the level of AIRE is linked to sexual dimorphism susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. In human and mouse thymus, females expressed less AIRE (mRNA and protein) than males after puberty. These results were confirmed in purified murine thymic epithelial cells (TECs). We also demonstrated that AIRE expression is related to sexual hormones, as male castration decreased AIRE thymic expression and estrogen receptor α-deficient mice did not show a sex disparity for AIRE expression. Moreover, estrogen treatment resulted in downregulation of AIRE expression in cultured human TECs, human thymic tissue grafted to immunodeficient mice, and murine fetal thymus organ cultures. AIRE levels in human thymus grafted in immunodeficient mice depended upon the sex of the recipient. Estrogen also upregulated the number of methylated CpG sites in the AIRE promoter. Together, our results indicate that in females, estrogen induces epigenetic changes in the AIRE gene, leading to reduced AIRE expression under a threshold that increases female susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Dragin
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC University of Paris 06, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- CNRS FRE 3617, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | - Jacky Bismuth
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC University of Paris 06, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- CNRS FRE 3617, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | | | - Maria Grazia Biferi
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC University of Paris 06, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- CNRS FRE 3617, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | - Claire Berthault
- INSERM U668, Unit for Lymphopoiesis, Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Cellule Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Alain Serraf
- Hôpital Marie Lannelongue, Le Plessis–Robinson, France
| | - Rémi Nottin
- Hôpital Marie Lannelongue, Le Plessis–Robinson, France
| | - David Klatzmann
- Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Biotherapy, Paris, France
| | - Ana Cumano
- INSERM U668, Unit for Lymphopoiesis, Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France
| | - Martine Barkats
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC University of Paris 06, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- CNRS FRE 3617, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | - Rozen Le Panse
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC University of Paris 06, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- CNRS FRE 3617, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | - Sonia Berrih-Aknin
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC University of Paris 06, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- CNRS FRE 3617, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
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24
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Engelmann F, Rivera A, Park B, Messerle-Forbes M, Jensen JT, Messaoudi I. Impact of Estrogen Therapy on Lymphocyte Homeostasis and the Response to Seasonal Influenza Vaccine in Post-Menopausal Women. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149045. [PMID: 26859566 PMCID: PMC4747494 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
It is widely recognized that changes in levels of ovarian steroids modulate severity of autoimmune disease and immune function in young adult women. These observations suggest that the loss of ovarian steroids associated with menopause could affect the age-related decline in immune function, known as immune senescence. Therefore, in this study, we determined the impact of menopause and estrogen therapy (ET) on lymphocyte subset frequency as well as the immune response to seasonal influenza vaccine in three different groups: 1) young adult women (regular menstrual cycles, not on hormonal contraception); 2) post-menopausal (at least 2 years) women who are not receiving any form of hormone therapy (HT) and 3) post-menopausal hysterectomized women receiving ET. Although the numbers of circulating CD4 and CD20 B cells were reduced in the post-menopausal group receiving ET, we also detected a better preservation of naïve B cells, decreased CD4 T cell inflammatory cytokine production, and slightly lower circulating levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Following vaccination, young adult women generated more robust antibody and T cell responses than both post-menopausal groups. Despite similar vaccine responses between the two post-menopausal groups, we observed a direct correlation between plasma 17β estradiol (E2) levels and fold increase in IgG titers within the ET group. These findings suggest that ET affects immune homeostasis and that higher plasma E2 levels may enhance humoral responses in post-menopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Engelmann
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Andrea Rivera
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Byung Park
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Marci Messerle-Forbes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey T. Jensen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Ilhem Messaoudi
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, United States of America
- Division of Pathobiology and Immunology, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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25
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Huang S, Ding R, Lin Y, He Z, Wu F, Dai X, Chen Y, Gui Y, Huang Z, Wu Z, Liang C. Reduced T-Cell Thymic Export Reflected by sj-TREC in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease. J Atheroscler Thromb 2016; 23:632-43. [PMID: 26754173 DOI: 10.5551/jat.31575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Immunologic dysfunction was recently found to be one of the most important mechanisms underlying the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. Thymus involution can contribute to immune disturbance and disequilibrium of T-cell subsets. This study aimed to explore whether recent thymic emigration (RTE) is impaired in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS Content of signal-joint T cell receptor excision circles (sj-TREC) in T lymphocytes, a molecular marker of RTE, was assessed among CAD patients and age-matched controls. Monochrome multiplex quantitative PCR method was used to assess the samples' telomere length in order to exclude the potential influence of T cell proliferation on the dilution of sj-TREC. Patients were grouped according to Gensini score (GS) (low, GS <18; intermediate, GS 18-41; high, GS >41). Ordinary logistic regression models were used to determine potential risk factors for CAD and GS tertiles. RESULTS Average copy numbers of sj-TREC per 10(6) T lymphocytes among patients with unstable angina, stable angina, and controls were 726±429, 1213±465, and 1795±838, respectively (P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in telomere length among groups. Moreover, the content of sj-TREC in the high GS group was most significantly reduced than the low GS group (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that lower sj-TREC was independently associated with the progression of CAD (OR=0.44, P<0.001) and higher GS (OR=0.4, P<0.001). CONCLUSION Impaired RTE could be partly responsible for CAD development. Mechanisms may be involved in the disturbance of T lymphocyte compartment and interruption of maintained immune tolerance resulting from thymus involution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaibo Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Defining the Roles of TcdA and TcdB in Localized Gastrointestinal Disease, Systemic Organ Damage, and the Host Response during Clostridium difficile Infections. mBio 2015; 6:e00551. [PMID: 26037121 PMCID: PMC4453007 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00551-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is a leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, a significant animal pathogen, and a worldwide public health burden. Most disease-causing strains secrete two exotoxins, TcdA and TcdB, which are considered to be the primary virulence factors. Understanding the role that these toxins play in disease is essential for the rational design of urgently needed new therapeutics. However, their relative contributions to disease remain contentious. Using three different animal models, we show that TcdA+ TcdB− mutants are attenuated in virulence in comparison to the wild-type (TcdA+ TcdB+) strain, whereas TcdA− TcdB+ mutants are fully virulent. We also show for the first time that TcdB alone is associated with both severe localized intestinal damage and systemic organ damage, suggesting that this toxin might be responsible for the onset of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), a poorly characterized but often fatal complication of C. difficile infection (CDI). Finally, we show that TcdB is the primary factor responsible for inducing the in vivo host innate immune and inflammatory responses. Surprisingly, the animal infection model used was found to profoundly influence disease outcomes, a finding which has important ramifications for the validation of new therapeutics and future disease pathogenesis studies. Overall, our results show unequivocally that TcdB is the major virulence factor of C. difficile and provide new insights into the host response to C. difficile during infection. The results also highlight the critical nature of using appropriate and, when possible, multiple animal infection models when studying bacterial virulence mechanisms. Clostridium difficile is a leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and an important hospital pathogen. TcdA and TcdB are thought to be the primary virulence factors responsible for disease symptoms of C. difficile infections (CDI). However, the individual contributions of these toxins to disease remain contentious. Using three different animal models of infection, we show for the first time that TcdB alone causes severe damage to the gut, as well as systemic organ damage, suggesting that this toxin might be responsible for MODS, a serious but poorly understood complication of CDI. These findings provide important new insights into the host response to C. difficile during infection and should guide the rational development of urgently required nonantibiotic therapeutics for the treatment of CDI.
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Fukushima T, Suzuki S, Ohira T, Shimura H, Midorikawa S, Ohtsuru A, Sakai A, Abe M, Yamashita S, Suzuki S. Prevalence of ectopic intrathyroidal thymus in Japan: the Fukushima health management survey. Thyroid 2015; 25:534-7. [PMID: 25778711 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2014.0367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ectopic intrathyroidal thymus is thought to be a rare entity, often discovered incidentally, and is due to aberrant thymic migration during embryogenesis. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ectopic intrathyroidal thymus in children using ultrasound screening. METHODS This study was cross-sectional and was conducted with the initial preliminary survey of the Fukushima Health Management Survey between October 9, 2011, and March 31, 2012, after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. A total of 37,816 children were examined in the survey. RESULTS Diagnostic criteria are based on the ultrasonographic appearance of ectopic intrathyroidal thymus, which were round, oval, or polygonal hypoechoic or hyperechoic areas, with multiple granular and punctate echogenic foci. A total of 375 (0.99%) cases (164 girls) with ectopic intrathyroidal thymus were observed. The mean age was 7.0 years (range 0-18 years). Ectopic intrathyroidal thymus was located in the right (n=180), left (n=178), or bilateral (n=17) thyroid lobes. The incidence of ectopic intrathyroidal thymus was inversely correlated with age and body mass index. CONCLUSION The results reflect the prevalence of ectopic intrathyroidal thymus using ultrasonography in the general population. Further examination will be needed by way of longitudinal follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiko Fukushima
- 1 Department of Thyroid and Endocrinology, Fukushima Medical University , Fukushima, Japan
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28
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Moser B, Janik S, Schiefer AI, Müllauer L, Bekos C, Scharrer A, Mildner M, Rényi-Vámos F, Klepetko W, Ankersmit HJ. Expression of RAGE and HMGB1 in thymic epithelial tumors, thymic hyperplasia and regular thymic morphology. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94118. [PMID: 24705787 PMCID: PMC3976415 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, a role of the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) in myasthenia gravis was described. RAGE and its ligand high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) play key roles in autoimmunity and cancer. To test whether these molecules are involved in patients with thymic abnormalities we applied immunohistochemical analysis in 33 cases of thymic epithelial tumors, comprising 27 thymomas and 6 thymic carcinomas, and 21 nonneoplastic thymuses. Both molecules were detected in neoplastic epithelial cells: RAGE staining was most intense in WHO type B2 thymomas and thymic carcinomas (p<0.001). HMGB1 nuclear staining was strongest in A and AB, and gradually less in B1 = B2>B3>thymic carcinoma (p<0.001). Conversely, HMGB1 cytoplasmic staining intensities were as follows: A and AB (none), B1 (strong), B2 (moderate), B3 and thymic carcinoma (weak); (p<0.001). Fetal thymic tissue showed a distinct expression of RAGE and HMGB1 in subcapsular cortical epithelial cells which was found in 50% of myasthenic patients. Furthermore RAGE and HMGB1 were expressed in thymocytes, macrophages, Hassall's corpuscles, thymic medulla, and germinal center cells in myasthenic patients. Immunohistochemistry results were complemented by systemic measurements (immunosorbent assay): serum levels of soluble RAGE were significantly reduced in patients with epithelial tumors (p = 0.008); and in invasive tumors (p = 0.008). Whereas RAGE was equally reduced in thymic hyperplasia and epithelial tumors (p = 0.003), HMGB1 was only elevated in malignancies (p = 0.036). Results were most pronounced in thymic carcinomas. Thus, RAGE and HMGB1 are involved in the (patho-)physiology of thymus, as evidenced by differentiated thymic and systemic expression patterns that may act as diagnostic or therapeutic targets in autoimmune disease and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Moser
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
| | - Stefan Janik
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Christine Bekos
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Regeneration of Cardiac and Thoracic Diseases, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anke Scharrer
- Department of Pathology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Mildner
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ferenc Rényi-Vámos
- Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Walter Klepetko
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hendrik Jan Ankersmit
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Regeneration of Cardiac and Thoracic Diseases, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Pantic I, Pantic S, Paunovic J, Perovic M. Nuclear entropy, angular second moment, variance and texture correlation of thymus cortical and medullar lymphocytes: grey level co-occurrence matrix analysis. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2013; 85:1063-72. [PMID: 23969846 DOI: 10.1590/s0001-37652013005000045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2012] [Accepted: 10/11/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Grey level co-occurrence matrix analysis (GLCM) is a well-known mathematical method for quantification of cell and tissue textural properties, such as homogeneity, complexity and level of disorder. Recently, it was demonstrated that this method is capable of evaluating fine structural changes in nuclear structure that otherwise are undetectable during standard microscopy analysis. In this article, we present the results indicating that entropy, angular second moment, variance, and texture correlation of lymphocyte nuclear structure determined by GLCM method are different in thymus cortex when compared to medulla. A total of 300 thymus lymphocyte nuclei from 10 one-month-old mice were analyzed: 150 nuclei from cortex and 150 nuclei from medullar regions of thymus. Nuclear GLCM analysis was carried out using National Institutes of Health ImageJ software. For each nucleus, entropy, angular second moment, variance and texture correlation were determined. Cortical lymphocytes had significantly higher chromatin angular second moment (p < 0.001) and texture correlation (p < 0.05) compared to medullar lymphocytes. Nuclear GLCM entropy and variance of cortical lymphocytes were on the other hand significantly lower than in medullar lymphocytes (p < 0.001). These results suggest that GLCM as a method might have a certain potential in detecting discrete changes in nuclear structure associated with lymphocyte migration and maturation in thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Pantic
- Laboratory for Cellular Physiology, School of Medicine, Institute of Medical Physiology, University of Belgrade, 11129 Belgrade, Serbia.
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30
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Su S, Fang F, Liu Y, Li Y, Ren C, Zhang Y, Zhang X. The compensatory expression of reproductive hormone receptors in the thymus of the male rat following active immunization against GnRH. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2013; 185:57-66. [PMID: 23395683 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2012] [Revised: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 01/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
To determine whether hormone-receptor signaling pathways in the thymus are altered by active immunization against gonadotrophin-releasing hormone I (GnRH), 3-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats received GnRH-tandem-OVA peptides (200 μg/ml), and the effects were compared to a control group. Serum testosterone, LH and FSH concentrations were markedly reduced, with severe testicular atrophy, compared to controls, demonstrating effective blockade of the pituitary-gonadal axis. The reduction in LH and FSH concentrations in the thymus of immunized animals was lower than that observed in the serum, where a significant difference (P<0.001) in concentration was observed between both groups. Concentrations of GnRH were increased in the thymus of immunized rats. In thymic tissue, GnRHR, FSHR and LHR demonstrated stronger immunostaining, and AR weaker staining, in the immunized group compared to controls. Reproductive hormone receptor mRNA expression was consistent with protein variations in the immunized thymus. Compared to controls, GnRHR gene levels were significantly increased (P<0.05), however, AR mRNA expression were greatly decreased with immune week-age (P<0.05). Both FSHR and LHR mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in the treated group than in controls in the first three samples (P<0.05). When GnRHR was blocked by an antagonist in thymocytes, all reproductive hormone receptor gene expressions were significantly increased (P<0.001). In summary, these findings suggest that active immunization against GnRH can up-regulate GnRH receptor and gonadotropin receptor signaling, by stimulating thymic autocrine and paracrine function, whereas the androgen receptor is down-regulated due to a lack of testosterone secretion in the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiping Su
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, No. 130 of Changjiang West Road, Hefei, Anhui 230036, PR China
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Williams L, Bosselut R. [Interleukin 22 may represent a new therapeutic tool towards thymic regeneration in vivo]. Med Sci (Paris) 2013; 29:11-4. [PMID: 23351684 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2013291003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
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Delezuch W, Marttinen P, Kokki H, Heikkinen M, Vanamo K, Pulkki K, Matinlauri I. Serum and CSF soluble CD26 and CD30 concentrations in healthy pediatric surgical outpatients. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 80:368-75. [PMID: 22861386 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2012.01938.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2012] [Revised: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 07/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Activated T-helper type 1 (Th1) lymphocytes induce a cellular type immune response, and Th2 lymphocytes, a humoral or antibody-mediated type immune response. Soluble CD26 (sCD26) and soluble CD30 (sCD30) are regarded as markers of Th1 and Th2 lymphocyte activation, respectively. Serum from 112 generally healthy pediatric surgical patients and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 39, aged 1-17 years were measured for sCD26 and sCD30 using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The detection limit for sCD26 was 6.8 ng/ml and for sCD30, 1.9 IU/ml. For serum sCD26 and sCD30, 2.5% and 97.5% percentiles constituted the reference limits, and the 95% credible intervals for the percentiles were calculated using regression models with a Bayesian approach. A significant between-gender difference was observed (P = 0.015) in serum sCD26 concentration, of which the lower limits ranged between 273 and 716 ng/ml for girls and 235 and 797 ng/ml for boys. The upper limits ranged between 1456 and 1898 ng/ml for girls and between 1419 and 1981 ng/ml for boys. Moreover, the concentrations of sCD26 increased in infants and children up to 10 years in girls and 12 years in boys. After this however, the values decreased. The serum sCD30 concentration was highest among the youngest infants aged 1 year (80-193 IU/ml), after which a consistent age-related decrease was found. The lowest values were found at the age of 17 years (10-89 IU/ml). A significant between-gender difference in sCD30 concentration was observed (P = 0.019). sCD26 and sCD30 concentrations were low in the CSF samples analyzed: 13.3 ng/ml (median); range 8.3-51.5 ng/ml and 7.6 IU/ml; 2.1-18.5 IU/ml, respectively. Reference limits for serum sCD26 in children aged 1-17 years were established as being 235-1800 ng/ml in toddlers and 400-1800 ng/ml in female adolescents and 700-2000 ng/ml in male adolescents. For sCD30; reference limits of 80-190 IU/ml were established in the youngest age group and 10-90 IU/ml in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Delezuch
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Kuopio and Eastern Finland Laboratory Centre, Kuopio, Finland
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Orsini G, Legitimo A, Failli A, Massei F, Biver P, Consolini R. Enumeration of human peripheral blood dendritic cells throughout the life. Int Immunol 2012; 24:347-56. [PMID: 22345276 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxs006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human aging is associated with immunosenescence, a process characterized by alterations in numerical and functional features of immune system components. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the main antigen-presenting cells, playing a pivotal role in adaptive and innate immunity. Therefore, we investigated the distribution of human circulating DCs throughout the life, in order to contribute to the knowledge of the physiological background underlying the aging of immune system. Cytofluorimetric analysis of peripheral blood samples by all-aged healthy population showed a significant decrease of circulating DCs and of their two main subsets among age. This reduction was limited to the plasmacytoid cell subtype when young and old subjects were analyzed separately. The analysis of circulating Treg cell number in a cohort of the subjects showed a significant reduction with increasing age and a positive significant correlation to myeloid or plasmacytoid absolute numbers. In conclusion, this work provides a large set of data of normal reference values of peripheral blood dendritic cells in healthy population suitable for comparative clinical studies concerning pathological immune dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Orsini
- Department of Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
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