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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Isolation and Transplantation of Different Aged Murine Thymic Grafts.

Isolation and Transplantation of Different Aged Murine Thymic Grafts.

Published on: May 13, 2015

Ghrelin promotes thymopoiesis during aging.

Vishwa Deep Dixit¹, Hyunwon Yang, Yuxiang Sun

¹Clinical Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. vishwa.dixit@pbrc.edu

The Journal of Clinical Investigation

|September 8, 2007

Summary

Aging impairs the thymus, reducing T cell output. Ghrelin hormone therapy can rejuvenate thymic function in aged mice, boosting T cell diversity and immunity.

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Stromal Cell Isolation From Hematopoietic Organs

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Published on: January 26, 2024

Area of Science:

Immunology
Endocrinology
Aging Research

Background:

Thymic involution, characterized by decreased T lymphocyte output and TCR repertoire diversity, contributes to age-related adaptive immunity decline.
This decline may stem from reduced progenitor cells and altered thymic microenvironment hormones.
Ghrelin, an orexigenic hormone, is known to regulate T cell activation and inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of ghrelin and its receptor in age-associated thymic involution.
To evaluate the therapeutic potential of ghrelin in restoring thymic function in aged individuals.

Main Methods:

Assessed ghrelin and ghrelin receptor expression in the thymus of aging mice.
Administered ghrelin to aged mice and analyzed thymic architecture, thymocyte numbers, and T cell receptor (TCR) diversity.
Examined thymopoiesis in ghrelin- and growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R)-deficient mice.
Investigated the effect of leptin on thymopoiesis in young and aged mice.

Main Results:

Ghrelin and ghrelin receptor expression decreased with age in the thymus.
Ghrelin infusion in aged mice improved thymic architecture, increased thymocyte numbers, and enhanced TCR diversity.
Ghrelin treatment promoted early thymocyte progenitors and bone marrow-derived Lin(-)Sca1(+)cKit(+) cells.
GHS-R-deficient mice exhibited accelerated thymic involution.
Leptin enhanced thymopoiesis in aged mice but not in young mice.

Conclusions:

Ghrelin plays a novel and significant role in thymic biology and thymopoiesis.
Ghrelin signaling is crucial for maintaining thymic function during aging.
Targeting the ghrelin pathway may offer a therapeutic strategy for immune reconstitution in immunocompromised subjects.