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Related Experiment Videos

Age-related decrease of somatostatin receptor number in the normal human thymus.

D Ferone1, R Pivonello, P M Van Hagen

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism
|September 23, 2000
PubMed
Summary
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The number of somatostatin receptors (SSR) in the human thymus decreases with age, potentially impacting thymic epithelial cells (TEC) and contributing to immune system aging. This suggests a link between the neuroendocrine and immune systems.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • The thymus undergoes physiological involution with age, characterized by decreasing thymocytes but stable thymic epithelial cells (TEC).
  • The role of hormones and neuropeptides in thymic involution is not fully understood.
  • Somatostatin (SS) and its receptor (SSR) subtypes are present in the human thymus, with TEC expressing sst(1) and sst(2A).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between thymus aging and the number of somatostatin receptors (SSR).
  • To determine if SSR expression changes with age in normal human thymuses.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized SSR autoradiography and ligand binding assays on human thymus tissue homogenates from individuals of various ages.
  • Quantified SSR binding using a sst(2)-preferring ligand, (125)I-Tyr(3)-octreotide.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Correlated receptor binding scores and B(max) values with thymus age.

    • Main Results:

    • Both autoradiographic scores and B(max) values for SSR showed a significant inverse correlation with thymus age (r = -0.84, P < 0.001; r = -0.82, P < 0.001).
    • Autoradiographic scores were positively correlated with B(max) values (r = 0.74, P < 0.001).
    • The decrease in SSR binding sites may be attributed to reduced sst(2A) receptor numbers on TEC, as TEC numbers remain constant with age.

    Conclusions:

    • Somatostatin and its receptors (SSR) likely play a role in human thymus involution.
    • The age-related decrease in SSR, particularly on TEC, aligns with age-associated changes in TEC's hormone production capabilities.
    • These findings highlight the neuroendocrine-immune system connection and the involvement of neuropeptides in human cellular immunity development.