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Age, thymic involution, and circulating thymic hormone activity.

V M Lewis, J J Twomey, P Bealmear

    The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
    |July 1, 1978
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Thymic hormone activity decreases with age, correlating with thymus shrinkage. However, some older individuals retain hormone activity, indicating potential thymus functional reserve.

    Area of Science:

    • Immunology
    • Endocrinology
    • Gerontology

    Background:

    • The thymus plays a crucial role in immune system development and function.
    • Thymic hormone production is believed to decline with age, contributing to immunosenescence.
    • Understanding thymic function in adults, particularly in relation to aging, is important for immune health.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the relationship between circulating thymic hormone activity and thymic histology in patients undergoing open heart surgery.
    • To characterize the age-related changes in thymic hormone levels.
    • To explore the functional reserve of the aging thymus.

    Main Methods:

    • Plasma thymic hormone activity was measured using a bioassay.
    • The bioassay utilized thymocyte antigen induction on null mouse lymphocytes.

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Thymic histology was assessed in patients undergoing open heart surgery.

    • Main Results:

    • Circulating thymic hormone activity was highest in individuals aged 15-30 years.
    • Hormone activity declined significantly with age, becoming negligible after the sixth decade.
    • A general correlation was observed between declining hormone activity and progressive thymic involution (shrinkage).
    • Notably, thymic hormone activity was detected in some patients with advanced thymic involution.

    Conclusions:

    • Circulating thymic hormone activity exhibits a marked age-dependent decline.
    • The aging thymus shows progressive involution, reflected in reduced hormone production.
    • The presence of detectable hormone activity in some cases with significant thymic involution suggests a potential functional reserve in the aging thymus.