1
|
Stankiewicz LN, Rossi FMV, Zandstra PW. Rebuilding and rebooting immunity with stem cells. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:597-616. [PMID: 38593798 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Advances in modern medicine have enabled a rapid increase in lifespan and, consequently, have highlighted the immune system as a key driver of age-related disease. Immune regeneration therapies present exciting strategies to address age-related diseases by rebooting the host's primary lymphoid tissues or rebuilding the immune system directly via biomaterials or artificial tissue. Here, we identify important, unanswered questions regarding the safety and feasibility of these therapies. Further, we identify key design parameters that should be primary considerations guiding technology design, including timing of application, interaction with the host immune system, and functional characterization of the target patient population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura N Stankiewicz
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Fabio M V Rossi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Peter W Zandstra
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yang X, Chen X, Wang W, Qu S, Lai B, Zhang J, Chen J, Han C, Tian Y, Xiao Y, Gao W, Wu Y. Transcriptional profile of human thymus reveals IGFBP5 is correlated with age-related thymic involution. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1322214. [PMID: 38318192 PMCID: PMC10839013 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1322214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Thymus is the main immune organ which is responsible for the production of self-tolerant and functional T cells, but it shrinks rapidly with age after birth. Although studies have researched thymus development and involution in mouse, the critical regulators that arise with age in human thymus remain unclear. We collected public human single-cell transcriptomic sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets containing 350,678 cells from 36 samples, integrated them as a cell atlas of human thymus. Clinical samples were collected and experiments were performed for validation. We found early thymocyte-specific signaling and regulons which played roles in thymocyte migration, proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. Nevertheless, signaling patterns including number, strength and path completely changed during aging, Transcription factors (FOXC1, MXI1, KLF9, NFIL3) and their target gene, IGFBP5, were resolved and up-regulated in aging thymus and involved in promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), responding to steroid and adipogenesis process of thymic epithelial cell (TECs). Furthermore, we validated that IGFBP5 protein increased at TECs and Hassall's corpuscle in both human and mouse aging thymus and knockdown of IGFBP5 significantly increased the expression of proliferation-related genes in thymocytes. Collectively, we systematically explored cell-cell communications and regulons of early thymocytes as well as age-related differences in human thymus by using both bioinformatic and experimental verification, indicating IGFBP5 as a functional marker of thymic involution and providing new insights into the mechanisms of thymus involution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Yang
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xichan Chen
- Institute of Immunology People’s Liberation Army (PLA) & Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Siming Qu
- Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Binbin Lai
- Institute of Medical Technology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Ji Zhang
- Institute of Immunology People’s Liberation Army (PLA) & Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Institute of Immunology People’s Liberation Army (PLA) & Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Chao Han
- Institute of Immunology People’s Liberation Army (PLA) & Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yi Tian
- Institute of Immunology People’s Liberation Army (PLA) & Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yingbin Xiao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Weiwu Gao
- Institute of Immunology People’s Liberation Army (PLA) & Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yuzhang Wu
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- Institute of Immunology People’s Liberation Army (PLA) & Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Srinivasan J, Vasudev A, Shasha C, Selden HJ, Perez E, LaFleur B, Sinari SA, Krueger A, Richie ER, Ehrlich LIR. The initial age-associated decline in early T-cell progenitors reflects fewer pre-thymic progenitors and altered signals in the bone marrow and thymus microenvironments. Aging Cell 2023; 22:e13870. [PMID: 37221658 PMCID: PMC10410006 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related thymus involution results in decreased T-cell production, contributing to increased susceptibility to pathogens and reduced vaccine responsiveness. Elucidating mechanisms underlying thymus involution will inform strategies to restore thymopoiesis with age. The thymus is colonized by circulating bone marrow (BM)-derived thymus seeding progenitors (TSPs) that differentiate into early T-cell progenitors (ETPs). We find that ETP cellularity declines as early as 3 months (3MO) of age in mice. This initial ETP reduction could reflect changes in thymic stromal niches and/or pre-thymic progenitors. Using a multicongenic progenitor transfer approach, we demonstrate that the number of functional TSP/ETP niches does not diminish with age. Instead, the number of pre-thymic lymphoid progenitors in the BM and blood is substantially reduced by 3MO, although their intrinsic ability to seed and differentiate in the thymus is maintained. Additionally, Notch signaling in BM lymphoid progenitors and in ETPs diminishes by 3MO, suggesting reduced niche quality in the BM and thymus contribute to the early decline in ETPs. Together, these findings indicate that diminished BM lymphopoiesis and thymic stromal support contribute to an initial reduction in ETPs in young adulthood, setting the stage for progressive age-associated thymus involution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jayashree Srinivasan
- Department of Molecular BiosciencesThe University of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUnited States
| | - Anusha Vasudev
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular CarcinogenesisThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUnited States
| | - Carolyn Shasha
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease DivisionFred Hutchinson Cancer CenterSeattleWashingtonUnited States
| | - Hilary J. Selden
- Department of Molecular BiosciencesThe University of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUnited States
| | - Encarnacion Perez
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular CarcinogenesisThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUnited States
| | - Bonnie LaFleur
- Center for Biomedical Informatics and StatisticsThe University of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUnited States
| | - Shripad A. Sinari
- Center for Biomedical Informatics and StatisticsThe University of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUnited States
| | - Andreas Krueger
- Molecular ImmunologyJustus‐Liebig‐University GiessenGiessenGermany
| | - Ellen R. Richie
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular CarcinogenesisThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUnited States
| | - Lauren I. R. Ehrlich
- Department of Molecular BiosciencesThe University of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUnited States
- Department of OncologyLivestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Reis MDDS, Veneziani LP, Porto FL, Lins MP, Mendes-da-Cruz DA, Savino W. Intrathymic somatotropic circuitry: consequences upon thymus involution. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1108630. [PMID: 37426675 PMCID: PMC10323194 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1108630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) is a classic pituitary-derived hormone crucial to body growth and metabolism. In the pituitary gland, GH production is stimulated by GH-releasing hormone and inhibited by somatostatin. GH secretion can also be induced by other peptides, such as ghrelin, which interacts with receptors present in somatotropic cells. It is well established that GH acts directly on target cells or indirectly by stimulating the production of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), particularly IGF-1. Notably, such somatotropic circuitry is also involved in the development and function of immune cells and organs, including the thymus. Interestingly, GH, IGF-1, ghrelin, and somatostatin are expressed in the thymus in the lymphoid and microenvironmental compartments, where they stimulate the secretion of soluble factors and extracellular matrix molecules involved in the general process of intrathymic T-cell development. Clinical trials in which GH was used to treat immunocompromised patients successfully recovered thymic function. Additionally, there is evidence that the reduction in the function of the somatotropic axis is associated with age-related thymus atrophy. Treatment with GH, IGF-1 or ghrelin can restore thymopoiesis of old animals, thus in keeping with a clinical study showing that treatment with GH, associated with metformin and dehydroepiandrosterone, could induce thymus regeneration in healthy aged individuals. In conclusion, the molecules of the somatotrophic axis can be envisioned as potential therapeutic targets for thymus regeneration in age-related or pathological thymus involution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Danielma dos Santos Reis
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
- Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana Peixoto Veneziani
- Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- INOVA-IOC Network on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Felipe Lima Porto
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
- Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marvin Paulo Lins
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
- Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniella Arêas Mendes-da-Cruz
- Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- INOVA-IOC Network on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wilson Savino
- Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- INOVA-IOC Network on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Soto-Heredero G, Gómez de Las Heras MM, Escrig-Larena JI, Mittelbrunn M. Extremely Differentiated T Cell Subsets Contribute to Tissue Deterioration During Aging. Annu Rev Immunol 2023; 41:181-205. [PMID: 37126417 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-immunol-101721-064501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
There is a dramatic remodeling of the T cell compartment during aging. The most notorious changes are the reduction of the naive T cell pool and the accumulation of memory-like T cells. Memory-like T cells in older people acquire a phenotype of terminally differentiated cells, lose the expression of costimulatory molecules, and acquire properties of senescent cells. In this review, we focus on the different subsets of age-associated T cells that accumulate during aging. These subsets include extremely cytotoxic T cells with natural killer properties, exhausted T cells with altered cytokine production, and regulatory T cells that gain proinflammatory features. Importantly, all of these subsets lose their lymph node homing capacity and migrate preferentially to nonlymphoid tissues, where they contribute to tissue deterioration and inflammaging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Soto-Heredero
- Homeostasis de Tejidos y Órganos, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel M Gómez de Las Heras
- Homeostasis de Tejidos y Órganos, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Ignacio Escrig-Larena
- Homeostasis de Tejidos y Órganos, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain;
| | - María Mittelbrunn
- Homeostasis de Tejidos y Órganos, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lancaster JN, Keatinge‐Clay DE, Srinivasan J, Li Y, Selden HJ, Nam S, Richie ER, Ehrlich LIR. Central tolerance is impaired in the middle-aged thymic environment. Aging Cell 2022; 21:e13624. [PMID: 35561351 PMCID: PMC9197411 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the earliest hallmarks of immune aging is thymus involution, which not only reduces the number of newly generated and exported T cells, but also alters the composition and organization of the thymus microenvironment. Thymic T‐cell export continues into adulthood, yet the impact of thymus involution on the quality of newly generated T‐cell clones is not well established. Notably, the number and proportion of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) and expression of tissue‐restricted antigens (TRAs) decline with age, suggesting the involuting thymus may not promote efficient central tolerance. Here, we demonstrate that the middle‐aged thymic environment does not support rapid motility of medullary thymocytes, potentially diminishing their ability to scan antigen presenting cells (APCs) that display the diverse self‐antigens that induce central tolerance. Consistent with this possibility, thymic slice assays reveal that the middle‐aged thymic environment does not support efficient negative selection or regulatory T‐cell (Treg) induction of thymocytes responsive to either TRAs or ubiquitous self‐antigens. This decline in central tolerance is not universal, but instead impacts lower‐avidity self‐antigens that are either less abundant or bind to TCRs with moderate affinities. Additionally, the decline in thymic tolerance by middle age is accompanied by both a reduction in mTECs and hematopoietic APC subsets that cooperate to drive central tolerance. Thus, age‐associated changes in the thymic environment result in impaired central tolerance against moderate‐avidity self‐antigens, potentially resulting in export of increasingly autoreactive naive T cells, with a deficit of Treg counterparts by middle age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica N. Lancaster
- Department of Molecular Biosciences The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | | | - Jayashree Srinivasan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | - Yu Li
- Department of Molecular Biosciences The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | - Hilary J. Selden
- Department of Molecular Biosciences The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | - Seohee Nam
- Department of Molecular Biosciences The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | - Ellen R. Richie
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston Texas USA
| | - Lauren I. R. Ehrlich
- Department of Molecular Biosciences The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
- Department of Oncology Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wei TT, Feng YK, Cao JH, Li JH, Yuan SL, Ding Y, Chai YR. Dosage effects of resveratrol on thymus involution in D-galactose-treated mice. J Food Biochem 2021; 45:e13709. [PMID: 33778958 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.13709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The thymus regulates a specific microenvironment for the growth and maturation of naive T cells. Involution of immune function was an important factor during body aging. Preventing the senescence of immune organs has become a major medical issue. Resveratrol (RSV) has been proved to delay the aging of many organs including the thymus. However, the underlying mechanism remains indefinite and the dosages of RSV on thymus involution need to be further clarified. In the current study, the senescence-accelerated mice were produced using d-galactose for two months. RSV at different dosages (25, 50, 100 mg kg-1 day-1 ) was then administered. The alteration of the thymic morphological structure was observed. It showed that three dosages of RSV significantly decreased cellular senescence of the thymus and no dosage difference was detected. For cellular proliferation and apoptosis of the thymus, 50 and 25 mg/kg per day of RSV displayed the best effects on cellular proliferation and apoptosis in the thymus, respectively. Furthermore, 50 mg/kg per day of RSV increased the expression of FoxN1 both at transcription and translation levels. These findings indicated that RSV could delay thymus atrophy in a dosage-dependent pattern and FoxN1 might involve in the beneficial mechanism of RSV, which was of great significance for the enhancement of thymic health and organic immunity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Resveratrol has been proved to delay aging of many organs including of thymus. In the present study, we explored the dosage of resveratrol on thymus involution and the expression of transcription factors forkhead box protein N1 (FoxN1) in the senescenceaccelerated mice induced by D-galactose. The results indicated that resveratrol could delay thymus atrophy in a dosage-dependent pattern within a certain dose range, and higher RSV concentration may have drug toxicity, which suggests that the dosage of RSV requires attention, And FoxN1 might involve in the beneficial mechanism of resveratrol supplement, which was of great significance to explore the mechanism for the enhancement of thymus immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Ting Wei
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Scientific and Technical Institute of Reproductive Health, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuan-Kang Feng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jia-Hui Cao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jie-Han Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shu-Liang Yuan
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yi Ding
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu-Rong Chai
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tong QY, Zhang JC, Guo JL, Li Y, Yao LY, Wang X, Yang YG, Sun LG. Human Thymic Involution and Aging in Humanized Mice. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1399. [PMID: 32733465 PMCID: PMC7358581 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic involution is an important factor leading to the aging of the immune system. Most of what we know regarding thymic aging comes from mouse models, and the nature of the thymic aging process in humans remains largely unexplored due to the lack of a model system that permits longitudinal studies of human thymic involution. In this study, we sought to explore the potential to examine human thymic involution in humanized mice, constructed by transplantation of fetal human thymus and CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells into immunodeficient mice. In these humanized mice, the human thymic graft first underwent acute recoverable involution caused presumably by transplantation stress, followed by an age-related chronic form of involution. Although both the early recoverable and later age-related thymic involution were associated with a decrease in thymic epithelial cells and recent thymic emigrants, only the latter was associated with an increase in adipose tissue mass in the thymus. Furthermore, human thymic grafts showed a dramatic reduction in FOXN1 and AIRE expression by 10 weeks post-transplantation. This study indicates that human thymus retains its intrinsic mechanisms of aging and susceptibility to stress-induced involution when transplanted into immunodeficient mice, offering a potentially useful in vivo model to study human thymic involution and to test therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Yue Tong
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| | - Jue-Chao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| | - Jing-Long Guo
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| | - Yang Li
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| | - Li-Yu Yao
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| | - Yong-Guang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China.,International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Li-Guang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yue S, Zheng X, Zheng Y. Cell-type-specific role of lamin-B1 in thymus development and its inflammation-driven reduction in thymus aging. Aging Cell 2019; 18:e12952. [PMID: 30968547 PMCID: PMC6612680 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular architectural proteins often participate in organ development and maintenance. Although functional decay of some of these proteins during aging is known, the cell-type-specific developmental role and the cause and consequence of their subsequent decay remain to be established especially in mammals. By studying lamins, the nuclear structural proteins, we demonstrate that lamin-B1 functions specifically in the thymic epithelial cells (TECs) for proper thymus organogenesis. An up-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines in the intra-thymic myeloid immune cells during aging accompanies a gradual reduction of lamin-B1 in adult TECs. We show that these cytokines can cause senescence and lamin-B1 reduction of the young adult TECs. Lamin-B1 supports the expression of TEC genes that can help maintain the adult TEC subtypes we identified by single-cell RNA-sequencing, thymic architecture, and function. Thus, structural proteins involved in organ building and maintenance can undergo inflammation-driven decay which can in turn contribute to age-associated organ degeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sibiao Yue
- Department of EmbryologyCarnegie Institution for ScienceBaltimoreMaryland
- Department of BiologyJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Xiaobin Zheng
- Department of BiologyJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Yixian Zheng
- Department of EmbryologyCarnegie Institution for ScienceBaltimoreMaryland
- Department of BiologyJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMaryland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Guo D, Ye Y, Qi J, Tan X, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Li Y. Age and sex differences in microRNAs expression during the process of thymus aging. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2017; 49:409-419. [PMID: 28369179 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmx029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The gender-biased thymus involution and the importance of microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) expression in modulating the thymus development have been reported in many studies. However, how males and females differ in so many ways in thymus involution remains unclear. To address this question, we investigated the miRNA expression profiles in both untreated 3- and 12-month-old female and male mice thymuses. The results showed that 7 and 18 miRNAs were defined as the sex- and age-specific miRNAs, respectively. The expression of miR-181c-5p, miR-20b-5p, miR-98b-5p, miR-329-3p, miR-341-5p, and miR-2137 showed significant age-difference in mice thymus by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. High expression levels of miR-2137 were detected in mice thymic epithelial cells and gradually increased during the process of thymus aging. MiR-27b-3p and miR-378a-3p of the female-biased miRNAs were confirmed as the sex- and estrogen-responsive miRNAs in mice thymus in vivo. Their potential target genes and the pathway were identified by the online software. Possible regulation roles of sex- and age-specific miRNA expression during the process of thymus aging were discussed. Our results suggested that these miRNAs may be potential biomarkers for the study of sex- and age-specific thymus aging and involution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongguang Guo
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yaqiong Ye
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Junjie Qi
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiaotong Tan
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yongjiang Ma
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yugu Li
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Westera L, van Hoeven V, Drylewicz J, Spierenburg G, van Velzen JF, de Boer RJ, Tesselaar K, Borghans JAM. Lymphocyte maintenance during healthy aging requires no substantial alterations in cellular turnover. Aging Cell 2015; 14:219-27. [PMID: 25627171 PMCID: PMC4364834 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In healthy humans, lymphocyte populations are maintained at a relatively constant size throughout life, reflecting a balance between lymphocyte production and loss. Given the profound immunological changes that occur during healthy aging, including a significant decline in T-cell production by the thymus, lymphocyte maintenance in the elderly is generally thought to require homeostatic alterations in lymphocyte dynamics. Surprisingly, using in vivo2H2O labeling, we find similar dynamics of most lymphocyte subsets between young adult and elderly healthy individuals. As the contribution of thymic output to T-cell production is only minor from young adulthood onward, compensatory increases in peripheral T-cell division rates are not required to maintain the T-cell pool, despite a tenfold decline in thymic output. These fundamental insights will aid the interpretation of further research into aging and clinical conditions related to disturbed lymphocyte dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liset Westera
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology; Department of Immunology; University Medical Center Utrecht; Lundlaan 6 3584 EA Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Vera van Hoeven
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology; Department of Immunology; University Medical Center Utrecht; Lundlaan 6 3584 EA Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Julia Drylewicz
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology; Department of Immunology; University Medical Center Utrecht; Lundlaan 6 3584 EA Utrecht The Netherlands
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics; Department of Biology; Utrecht University; Padualaan 8 3584 CH Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Gerrit Spierenburg
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology; Department of Immunology; University Medical Center Utrecht; Lundlaan 6 3584 EA Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen F. van Velzen
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology; Department of Immunology; University Medical Center Utrecht; Lundlaan 6 3584 EA Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Rob J. de Boer
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics; Department of Biology; Utrecht University; Padualaan 8 3584 CH Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Kiki Tesselaar
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology; Department of Immunology; University Medical Center Utrecht; Lundlaan 6 3584 EA Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - José A. M. Borghans
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology; Department of Immunology; University Medical Center Utrecht; Lundlaan 6 3584 EA Utrecht The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Obukhova LA, Vais VB, Bakeeva LE, Sergeeva SV, Kolosova NG. [Structural and functional basis for accelerated thymic involution in OXYS rats]. Adv Gerontol 2013; 26:229-235. [PMID: 28976145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Thymus involution is one of the most pronounced manifestations of aging immune system, associated with increase susceptibility to infections, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Its nature in normal aging is actively under investigation. Much less attention is paid to the study of mechanisms of accelerated thymic involution. Previously, we showed the connection of accelerated senescence in OXYS rats with accelerated thymic involution, the mechanisms of which remain unclear. The aim of the present work was to study multifunctional condition of thymic epithelial cells in aging OXYS rats. Immunohistochemical analysis showed the reduction of thymic epithelial cell net in OXYS rats, significant decrease in volume and surface area of epithelial cells in cortical substance as compared to control Wistar rats. Electron microscopic study revealed the marked changes of epithelial cell ultrastructure, namely the reduction of cytoplasm volume, sharp decrease in size and quantity of secretory vacuoles, the presence of multiple autophagosomes and phagolysomes. The results indicate that one of the possible mechanisms of epithelial cell net reduction in thymus of senescence-accelerated OXYS rats can be the aggravation of autophagy, probably associated with mitochondrial dysfunction typical for OXYS rats. Despite the known fact of slowing autophagy with aging in some tissues, the example of OXYS rats allows to suggest that chronic deviation of intensity of this process from physiological level, either to decrease or activation, can lead to degenerative changes in organs and finally form the progeric phenotype of the whole organism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L A Obukhova
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation;
| | - V B Vais
- A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
| | - L E Bakeeva
- A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
| | - S V Sergeeva
- Institute of Cytology Genetics, Siberian Branch of RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
| | - N G Kolosova
- Institute of Cytology Genetics, Siberian Branch of RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Seksenyan A, Ron-Harel N, Azoulay D, Cahalon L, Cardon M, Rogeri P, Ko MK, Weil M, Bulvik S, Rechavi G, Amariglio N, Konen E, Koronyo-Hamaoui M, Somech R, Schwartz M. Thymic involution, a co-morbidity factor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Cell Mol Med 2010; 14:2470-82. [PMID: 19650830 PMCID: PMC3823164 DOI: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2009.00863.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2008] [Accepted: 07/10/2009] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disease, characterized by extremely rapid loss of motor neurons. Our studies over the last decade have established CD4(+) T cells as important players in central nervous system maintenance and repair. Those results, together with recent findings that CD4(+) T cells play a protective role in mouse models of ALS, led us to the current hypothesis that in ALS, a rapid T-cell malfunction may develop in parallel to the motor neuron dysfunction. Here, we tested this hypothesis by assessing thymic function, which serves as a measure of peripheral T-cell availability, in an animal model of ALS (mSOD1 [superoxide dismutase] mice; G93A) and in human patients. We found a significant reduction in thymic progenitor-cell content, and abnormal thymic histology in 3-4-month-old mSOD1 mice. In ALS patients, we found a decline in thymic output, manifested in the reduction in blood levels of T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles, a non-invasive measure of thymic function, and demonstrated a restricted T-cell repertoire. The morbidity of the peripheral immune cells was also manifested in the increase of pro-apoptotic BAX/BCXL2 expression ratio in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of these patients. In addition, gene expression screening in the same PBMCs, revealed in the ALS patients a reduction in key genes known to be associated with T-cell activity, including: CD80, CD86, IFNG and IL18. In light of the reported beneficial role of T cells in animal models of ALS, the present observation of thymic dysfunction, both in human patients and in an animal model, might be a co-pathological factor in ALS, regardless of the disease aetiology. These findings may lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches directed at overcoming the thymic defect and T-cell deficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akop Seksenyan
- Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Noga Ron-Harel
- Department of Neurobiology, the Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovot, Israel
| | - David Azoulay
- Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Liora Cahalon
- Department of Neurobiology, the Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovot, Israel
| | - Michal Cardon
- Department of Neurobiology, the Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovot, Israel
| | - Patricia Rogeri
- Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Minhee K Ko
- Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Miguel Weil
- Department of Cell Research and Immunology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv UniversityTel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shlomo Bulvik
- Hematology Department, Laniado HospitalNetanya, Israel
| | - Gideon Rechavi
- Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of MedicineTel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ninette Amariglio
- Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of MedicineTel Aviv, Israel
| | - Eli Konen
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of MedicineTel Aviv, Israel
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Raz Somech
- Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of MedicineTel Aviv, Israel
- Pediatric Immunology Service, Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of MedicineTel Aviv, Israel
| | - Michal Schwartz
- Maxine-Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, the Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovot, Israel
| |
Collapse
|