Reversible Disruption of Thymic Function by Steroid Treatment

The effect of steroid treatment on the thymic output of T cells was examined in an avian model. Recent thymic emigrants in chickens transiently express the chicken T cell Ag 1 thymocyte marker, and thymic function can be monitored indirectly by measuring the levels of TCR gene rearrangement excision circles in peripheral T cells. Both parameters were used to show that intensive steroid treatment induces thymic involution and a profound reduction in the supply of naive T cells to the periphery. Conversely, resident T cells in the peripheral lymphocyte pool were relatively spared. Thymopoiesis immediately recovered following cessation of steroid treatment, concurrent with restoration of the thymic output of newly formed T cells. Repopulation of the peripheral T cell pool recapitulated the ontogenetic pattern of gamma delta T cell replenishment before alpha beta T cell reseeding, thereby indicating the complete recovery of thymic function after a course of steroid treatment.