Acute endotoxin-induced thymic atrophy is characterized by intrathymic inflammatory and wound healing responses.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Productive thymopoiesis is essential for a robust and healthy immune system. Thymus unfortunately is acutely sensitive to stress resulting in involution and decreased T cell production. Thymic involution is a complication of many clinical settings, including infection, malnutrition, starvation, and irradiation or immunosuppressive therapies. Systemic rises in glucocorticoids and inflammatory cytokines are known to contribute to thymic atrophy. Little is known, however, about intrathymic mechanisms that may actively contribute to thymus atrophy or initiate thymic recovery following stress events.

Methodology/principal findings

Phenotypic, histologic and transcriptome/pathway analysis of murine thymic tissue during the early stages of endotoxemia-induced thymic invo

SUBMITTER: Billard MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3060875 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature