An overview of the necessary thymic contributions to tolerance in transplantation

Joseph R Scalea; John B Hickman; Daniel J Moore; Kenneth L Brayman

doi:10.1016/j.clim.2016.10.010

An overview of the necessary thymic contributions to tolerance in transplantation

Clin Immunol. 2016 Oct 27:S1521-6616(16)30382-5. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2016.10.010. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Joseph R Scalea¹, John B Hickman², Daniel J Moore³, Kenneth L Brayman⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland, United States. Electronic address: jscalea@som.umaryland.edu.
² School of Medicine, University of Virginia, United States.
³ Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, United States.
⁴ School of Medicine, University of Virginia, United States; Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, United States.

PMID: 27989896
DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2016.10.010

Abstract

The thymus is important for the development of the immune system. However, aging leads to predictable involution of the thymus and immunodeficiency. These immunodeficiencies may be rectified with thymic rejuvenation. Atrophy of the thymus is governed by a complex interplay of molecular, cytokine and hormonal factors. Herein we review the interaction of these factors across age and how they may be targeted for thymic rejuvenation. We further discuss the growing pre-clinical evidence defining the necessary and sufficient contributions of the thymus to successful tolerance induction in transplantation.

Publication types

Review