title: Pharmacological modulation of caspase-8 in thymus-related medical conditions.
abstract: The thymus is a lymphoid organ that governs the development of a diverse T-cell repertoire capable of defending against nonself-antigens and avoiding autoimmunity. However, the thymus can also succumb to different diseases. Hypertrophic diseases, such as thymomas, are typically associated with impairment of negative selection, which leads to autoimmune disease, or disruption of positive selection, which results in immunodeficiency. Hypotrophic diseases of the thymus can manifest during acute infections, cancer, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, or with aging. This condition leads to decreased immune function and can be treated by either replacing lost thymic tissue or by preventing thymic tissue death. Studies have demonstrated the critical role of caspase-8 in regulating apoptosis in the thymus. In this review, we discuss how pharmacological activation and inhibition of caspase-8 can be used to treat hypertrophic and hypotrophic diseases of the thymus, respectively, to improve its function.
authors: Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.).
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Pozzesi
authors: Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.).
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Fierabracci
authors: Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.).
authors: Trinh Thy
authors: TT
authors: Thuy
authors: Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.).
authors: Maria Paola
authors: MP
authors: Martelli
authors: Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.).
authors: Anna Marina
authors: AM
authors: Liberati
authors: Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.).
authors: Emira
authors: E
authors: Ayroldi
authors: Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.).
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Riccardi
authors: Foligno Nurse School, Department of Medicine (N.P.), Section of Hematology (M.P.M.), Section of Pharmacology (E.A., C.R., D.V.D.), Department of Medicine, Section of Onco-Hematology, Hospital S. Maria, Terni, Department of Surgery (A.M.L.), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Autoimmunity Laboratory, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy (A.F.); and Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam (T.T.T.) domenico.delfino@unipg.it.
authors: Domenico V
authors: DV
authors: Delfino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013945:Thymoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D053181:Caspase 8