Journal article
Why does the thymus involute? A selection-based hypothesis
MR Dowling, PD Hodgkin
Trends in Immunology | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Published : 2009
Abstract
Thymic involution remains a fundamental mystery in immunology. Here we present an argument that this seemingly counterproductive behavior may have evolved to allow for peripheral selection of a T-cell repertoire during young-adult life, optimized for fighting infections and avoiding reaction to self. Age-associated decline in immune function may be viewed as an unfortunate side effect of this selective process. Thus, the key to understanding thymic involution might lie in a more quantitative understanding of T-cell homeostasis in the periphery. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Grants
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors thank Gabrielle Belz, Michael Cancro, Luisa Cimmino, Miles Davenport, Gayle Davey, Ken Duffy, Len Harrison, Bill Heath, Paul Koenen, Andrew Lew, John Markham, Jacques Miller, Ian Parish and Cameron Wellard for discussions and comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC). M.R.D. is supported by an NHMRC Biomedical Australian Fellowship, and P.D.H. is a Principal Research Fellow of the NHMRC.