On a causal mechanism of chronic thymic involution in man.
The age-associated chronic thymus involution is interpreted to occur due to cytolytic depletion of thymic stromal tissue whose cells present altered self-peptides. Using simplified assumptions and based on morphometric data on thymic involution in man, the chance for a single protein to be altered is estimated to be in the range of 2-4 x 10(-6) per year. The corresponding mutation rate is compatible with that derived from both evolutionary and direct studies, thus supporting the proposed model.
Hartwig
M
M
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Steinmann
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology*