Implications of Oxidative Stress and Cellular Senescence in Age-Related Thymus Involution. (5th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barbouti, Alexandra; Vasileiou, Panagiotis V. S.; Evangelou, Konstantinos; Vlasis, Konstantinos G.; Papoudou-Bai, Alexandra; Gorgoulis, Vassilis G.; Kanavaros, Panagiotis
• Other Names: Domenicotti Cinzia Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity. Volume 2020(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02-05
• Subjects: Oxidative stress -- Periodicals; Cells -- Aging -- Periodicals; Cells -- Aging; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress -- Periodicals; Cell Aging -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 611.0181
• DOI: 10.1155/2020/7986071
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1942-0900

Abstract

Abstract : The human thymus is a primary lymphoepithelial organ which supports the production of self-tolerant T cells with competent and regulatory functions. Paradoxically, despite the crucial role that it exerts in T cell-mediated immunity and prevention of systemic autoimmunity, the thymus is the first organ of the body that exhibits age-associated degeneration/regression, termed "thymic involution." A hallmark of this early phenomenon is a progressive decline of thymic mass as well as a decreased output of naïve T cells, thus resulting in impaired immune response. Importantly, thymic involution has been recently linked with cellular senescence which is a stress response induced by various stimuli. Accumulation of senescent cells in tissues has been implicated in aging and a plethora of age-related diseases. In addition, several lines of evidence indicate that oxidative stress, a well-established trigger of senescence, is also involved in thymic involution, thus highlighting a possible interplay between oxidative stress, senescence, and thymic involution.