It's not all equal: a multiphasic theory of thymic involution

Abstract

Regression of the thymus is a key feature of immunosenescence, which coincides with a decrease in T cell output and contributes to the restriction of the T cell repertoire in the elderly, leading to increased susceptibility to illness and disease. However, the mechanisms involved in thymic involution are still not fully known. Although, it is often believed that thymic involution occurs during the onset of puberty, increasing data suggests alterations to the thymus happen much earlier in life. Therefore, the changes in the thymus and subsequent thymic function may not just be an ageing phenomenon. In this article, we propose that there are several, non-linear, phases to thymic atrophy, which are regulated by different mechanisms, including the familiar age-dependent thymic involution and a much earlier growth-dependent thymic involution.