Tag: Thymus

By activating toll-like receptor 5, an important element of the innate immune system, scientists have increased lifespan and improved multiple health measurements in old mice, despite having started the treatment late in life [1]. TLRs and aging The immune system gets dysregulated with age, driving multiple age-related conditions [2]. It is manifested in higher tumor...

A new study published in Mechanisms of Aging and Development has shown that caloric restriction effectively restores T cell abundance in aged mice [1]. Is it really just about getting fewer calories? Caloric restriction has become a well-known anti-aging intervention, as it can reverse several hallmarks of aging and extend lifespan in different animal models....

A study published in Cell Reports shows how the thymus is stimulated to repair itself when dying thymocytes are depleted, paving the way towards novel methods of thymic regeneration. Cycles of involution, not a steady decline The researchers cite previous research showing that the thymus, despite being extremely sensitive to insults such as radiation and...

Publishing in Nature Communications' Cell Death Discovery, a team of Chinese researchers has discovered a reason for thymic involution, the age-related decline of the thymus. The thymus and its involution The thymus is a boot camp for T cells. Originating from bone marrow, T (for thymus) cells are chemically trained in the thymus, where they...

Recent research published in Nature Communications has regenerated a functional thymus in mice, making several other discoveries along the way [1]. A new sub-type of thymus cell emerges Although it is imperative to our immune health, the thymus is an under-studied organ that slowly disappears as we age. Its main function is to provide a...

New research published in Biomacromolecules has successfully cultured thymic epithelial cells in vitro. A 3D biomaterial for thymic epithelial cells Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine attempts to regenerate tissues both in the lab and in vivo. While the fact that everyone experiences thymic involution should make it a prime target for regenerative medicine, very little...