A Role for Glucocorticoids in Thymic Involution?

摘要

Aging of the immune system is characterized by a decline in adaptive immunity that leads to immune ndysfunction in the elderly. The striking involution of the thymus with age is thought to be mainly responsible for the loss nof immunocompetence. This involution process has been attributed not only to changes in the production of sex hormones nbut also to intrinsic defects in aged progenitor T-cells. Counteracting thymic involution is expected to contribute to nrestoration of immune function in the elderly. Here, we focus on recent evidence that glucocorticoid hormones might fulfil nsuch a role.