Thymocyte progenitors and T cell development in aging.
Dysfunction of T lymphocytes in aging has been causally related to a gradual loss of the thymic microenvironmental function. However, in view of the fact that T cells are generated from bone marrow-derived stem cells that settle in the thymus, we have investigated the possibility that aging effects on the bone marrow have an impact on T cell development. Our approach was based on seeding of bone marrow cells, from young and old mice, onto lymphoid-depleted fetal thymus explants, and examining the patterns of T lymphocyte development under organ culture conditions. The results indicate multifactorial effects of aging, on pre-thymic and intra-thymic development processes, as well as on feedback regulation by mature T cells.
Yu
S
S
Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Abel
L
L
Globerson
A
A
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors