Abstract
Aging is a continuous process that induces many alterations in the cytoarchitecture of different organs and systems both in humans and animals. Moreover, it is associated with increased susceptibility to infectious, autoimmune, and neoplastic processes. The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ responsible for the production of immunocompetent T cells and, with aging, it atrophies and declines in functions. Universality of thymic involution in all species possessing thymus, including human, indicates it as a long-standing evolutionary event. Although it is accepted that many factors contribute to age-associated thymic involution, little is known about the mechanisms involved in the process. The exact time point of the initiation is not well defined. To address the issue, we report the exact age of thymus throughout the review so that readers can have a nicely pictured synoptic view of the process. Focusing our attention on the different stages of the development of the thymus gland (natal, postnatal, adult, and old), we describe chronologically the morphological changes of the gland. We report that the thymic morphology and cell types are evolutionarily preserved in several vertebrate species. This finding is important in understanding the similar problems caused by senescence and other diseases. Another point that we considered very important is to indicate the assessment of the thymus through radiological images to highlight its variability in shape, size, and anatomical conformation.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 313-351 |
| Number of pages | 39 |
| Journal | Age |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2014 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Aging
- Human
- Rodent
- Thymus
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aging
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
Cite this
Thymus and aging : Morphological, radiological, and functional overview. / Rezzani, Rita; Nardo, Lorenzo; Favero, Gaia; Peroni, Michele; Rodella, Luigi Fabrizio.
In: Age, Vol. 36, No. 1, 01.01.2014, p. 313-351.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Thymus and aging
T2 - Morphological, radiological, and functional overview
AU - Rezzani, Rita
AU - Nardo, Lorenzo
AU - Favero, Gaia
AU - Peroni, Michele
AU - Rodella, Luigi Fabrizio
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - Aging is a continuous process that induces many alterations in the cytoarchitecture of different organs and systems both in humans and animals. Moreover, it is associated with increased susceptibility to infectious, autoimmune, and neoplastic processes. The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ responsible for the production of immunocompetent T cells and, with aging, it atrophies and declines in functions. Universality of thymic involution in all species possessing thymus, including human, indicates it as a long-standing evolutionary event. Although it is accepted that many factors contribute to age-associated thymic involution, little is known about the mechanisms involved in the process. The exact time point of the initiation is not well defined. To address the issue, we report the exact age of thymus throughout the review so that readers can have a nicely pictured synoptic view of the process. Focusing our attention on the different stages of the development of the thymus gland (natal, postnatal, adult, and old), we describe chronologically the morphological changes of the gland. We report that the thymic morphology and cell types are evolutionarily preserved in several vertebrate species. This finding is important in understanding the similar problems caused by senescence and other diseases. Another point that we considered very important is to indicate the assessment of the thymus through radiological images to highlight its variability in shape, size, and anatomical conformation.
AB - Aging is a continuous process that induces many alterations in the cytoarchitecture of different organs and systems both in humans and animals. Moreover, it is associated with increased susceptibility to infectious, autoimmune, and neoplastic processes. The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ responsible for the production of immunocompetent T cells and, with aging, it atrophies and declines in functions. Universality of thymic involution in all species possessing thymus, including human, indicates it as a long-standing evolutionary event. Although it is accepted that many factors contribute to age-associated thymic involution, little is known about the mechanisms involved in the process. The exact time point of the initiation is not well defined. To address the issue, we report the exact age of thymus throughout the review so that readers can have a nicely pictured synoptic view of the process. Focusing our attention on the different stages of the development of the thymus gland (natal, postnatal, adult, and old), we describe chronologically the morphological changes of the gland. We report that the thymic morphology and cell types are evolutionarily preserved in several vertebrate species. This finding is important in understanding the similar problems caused by senescence and other diseases. Another point that we considered very important is to indicate the assessment of the thymus through radiological images to highlight its variability in shape, size, and anatomical conformation.
KW - Aging
KW - Human
KW - Rodent
KW - Thymus
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84898792768&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84898792768&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11357-013-9564-5
DO - 10.1007/s11357-013-9564-5
M3 - Review article
C2 - 23877171
AN - SCOPUS:84898792768
VL - 36
SP - 313
EP - 351
JO - GeroScience
JF - GeroScience
SN - 2509-2715
IS - 1
ER -