AUTHOR=Cowan Jennifer E. , Takahama Yousuke , Bhandoola Avinash , Ohigashi Izumi 

TITLE=Postnatal Involution and Counter-Involution of the Thymus

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.00897

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2020.00897

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Thymus involution occurs in all vertebrates. It is thought to impact on immune responses in the aged, and in other clinical circumstances such as bone marrow transplantation. Determinants of thymus growth and size are beginning to be identified. Ectopic expression of factors like cyclin D1 and Myc in thymic epithelial cells (TEC)s results in considerable increase in thymus size. These models provide useful experimental tools that allow thymus function to be understood. In future, understanding TEC-specific controllers of growth will provide new approaches to thymus regeneration.</p>