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Apoptosis in primary lymphoid organs with aging
Author(s) -
Sainz Rosa M.,
Mayo Juan C.,
Reiter R.J.,
Tan D.X.,
Rodriguez C.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.10414
Subject(s) - immunosenescence , immune system , bone marrow , apoptosis , biology , lymphatic system , melatonin , immunology , hormone , lymphopoiesis , stem cell , haematopoiesis , cancer research , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry
Age‐associated changes in the immune system are responsible for an increased likelihood of infection, autoimmune diseases, and cancer in the elderly. Immunosenescence is characterized by reduced levels of the peripheral naive T cell pool derived from thymus and the loss of immature B lineage cells in the bone marrow. Primary lymphoid organs, i.e., bone marrow and thymus, exhibit a loss of cellularity with age, which is especially dramatic in the thymus. A summary of major changes associated with aging in primary lymphoid organs is described in this article. The participation of apoptosis in cell loss in the immune system, a change associated with age, as well as a description of molecular machinery involved, is presented. Finally, the involvement of different hormonal and non‐hormonal agents in counteracting apoptosis in thymus and bone marrow during aging is explained. Here, we underlie the important role of glucocorticoids as immunodepressors and melatonin as an immunostimulatory agent. Microsc. Res. Tech. 62:524–539, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.