title: Expression of 11beta-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase type 2 in human thymus.
abstract: 11beta-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) is a high affinity dehydrogenase which rapidly inactivates physiologically-active glucocorticoids to protect key tissues. 11β-HSD2 expression has been described in peripheral cells of the innate and the adaptive immune system as well as in murine thymus. In absence of knowledge of 11β-HSD2 expression in human thymus, the study aimed to localize 11β-HSD2 in human thymic tissue. Thymic tissue was taken of six healthy, non-immunologically impaired male infants below 12months of age with congenital heart defects who had to undergo correction surgery. 11β-HSD2 protein expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Kidney tissue, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were taken as positive controls. Significant expression of 11β-HSD2 protein was found at single cell level in thymus parenchyma, at perivascular sites of capillaries and small vessels penetrating the thymus lobuli and within Hassall's bodies. The present study demonstrates that 11β-HSD2 is expressed in human thymus with predominant perivascular expression and also within Hassall's bodies. To our knowledge, this is the first report confirming 11β-HSD2 expression at the protein level in human thymic tissue underlining a potential role of this enzyme in regulating glucocorticoid function at the thymic level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Almanzar
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology and Angiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mayerl
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan-Christoph
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Höfner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical University Innsbruck, Muellerstr. 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Wuerzburg, and Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geier
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fassnacht
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany. Electronic address: Prelog_M@ukw.de.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prelog
mesh_terms: D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1; D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2
keywords: 11β-HSD1; 11β-HSD2; Human; Thymus