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Induction of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inhibition on adipogenesis: Two different sides of the same coin? Feasible roles and mechanisms of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) in age‐related thymic involution
Author(s) -
Tan Jianxin,
Wang Yajun,
Zhang Nannan,
Zhu Xike
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
cell biology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1095-8355
pISSN - 1065-6995
DOI - 10.1002/cbin.10625
Subject(s) - transdifferentiation , involution (esoterism) , transforming growth factor , adipogenesis , biology , thymic involution , epithelial–mesenchymal transition , mesenchymal stem cell , stromal cell , endocrinology , transforming growth factor beta , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer research , immunology , downregulation and upregulation , immune system , stem cell , t cell , gene , neuroscience , genetics , consciousness
Abstract Age‐related thymic involution is characterized by a loss of thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and a concomitant increase in adipocytes, but the mechanisms involved in thymic adipogenesis are still not clear. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) is a pleiotropic cytokine that has been reported to be up‐regulated with age in thymic stromal cells in both human and mouse. However, the exact role of TGF‐β1 in age‐related thymic involution remains to be further elucidated. On the basis of previous findings, we propose a novel hypothesis that TGF‐β1 functions a dual role in age‐related thymic involution. On one hand, up‐regulation of TGF‐β1 promotes epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in TECs via activating forkhead box protein C2 (FoxC2). On the other hand, TGF‐β1 inhibits the transdifferentiation of EMT‐derived mesenchymal cells to adipocytes in the thymus. If confirmed, our hypothesis will not only provide further evidence supporting that the transdifferentiation of TECs into pre‐adipocytes represents a source of thymic adiposity during age‐related thymic involution, but also uncover a unique role of TGF‐β1 in the transdifferentiation of TECs into pre‐adipocytes. Collectively, the inhibition of TGF‐β1 may serve as a strategy to hinder age‐related thymic involution or even to restore thymic function in the elderly.