Uremia-Associated Ageing of the Thymus and Adaptive Immune Responses
Progressive loss of renal function is associated with a series of changes of the adaptive immune system which collectively constitute premature immunological ageing. This phenomenon contributes significantly to the mortality and morbidity of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. In this review, t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/12/4/224 |
| _version_ | 1827719392521093120 |
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| author | Michiel GH Betjes |
| author_facet | Michiel GH Betjes |
| author_sort | Michiel GH Betjes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Progressive loss of renal function is associated with a series of changes of the adaptive immune system which collectively constitute premature immunological ageing. This phenomenon contributes significantly to the mortality and morbidity of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. In this review, the effect of ESRD on the T cell part of the adaptive immune system is highlighted. Naïve T cell lymphopenia, in combination with the expansion of highly differentiated memory T cells, are the hallmarks of immunological ageing. The decreased production of newly formed T cells by the thymus is critically involved. This affects both the CD4 and CD8 T cell compartment and may contribute to the expansion of memory T cells. The expanding populations of memory T cells have a pro-inflammatory phenotype, add to low-grade inflammation already present in ESRD patients and destabilize atherosclerotic plaques. The effect of loss of renal function on the thymus is not reversed after restoring renal function by kidney transplantation and constitutes a long-term mortality risk factor. Promising results from animal experiments have shown that rejuvenation of the thymus is a possibility, although not yet applicable in humans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:42:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc03feb6f03a4eba89cfb4d082cd1600 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:42:30Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc03feb6f03a4eba89cfb4d082cd16002023-11-19T20:38:03ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512020-04-0112422410.3390/toxins12040224Uremia-Associated Ageing of the Thymus and Adaptive Immune ResponsesMichiel GH Betjes0Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rg5, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The NetherlandsProgressive loss of renal function is associated with a series of changes of the adaptive immune system which collectively constitute premature immunological ageing. This phenomenon contributes significantly to the mortality and morbidity of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. In this review, the effect of ESRD on the T cell part of the adaptive immune system is highlighted. Naïve T cell lymphopenia, in combination with the expansion of highly differentiated memory T cells, are the hallmarks of immunological ageing. The decreased production of newly formed T cells by the thymus is critically involved. This affects both the CD4 and CD8 T cell compartment and may contribute to the expansion of memory T cells. The expanding populations of memory T cells have a pro-inflammatory phenotype, add to low-grade inflammation already present in ESRD patients and destabilize atherosclerotic plaques. The effect of loss of renal function on the thymus is not reversed after restoring renal function by kidney transplantation and constitutes a long-term mortality risk factor. Promising results from animal experiments have shown that rejuvenation of the thymus is a possibility, although not yet applicable in humans.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/12/4/224uremiachronic kidney diseasethymusadaptive immunitylymphopeniaimmunological ageing |
| spellingShingle | Michiel GH Betjes Uremia-Associated Ageing of the Thymus and Adaptive Immune Responses Toxins uremia chronic kidney disease thymus adaptive immunity lymphopenia immunological ageing |
| title | Uremia-Associated Ageing of the Thymus and Adaptive Immune Responses |
| title_full | Uremia-Associated Ageing of the Thymus and Adaptive Immune Responses |
| title_fullStr | Uremia-Associated Ageing of the Thymus and Adaptive Immune Responses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Uremia-Associated Ageing of the Thymus and Adaptive Immune Responses |
| title_short | Uremia-Associated Ageing of the Thymus and Adaptive Immune Responses |
| title_sort | uremia associated ageing of the thymus and adaptive immune responses |
| topic | uremia chronic kidney disease thymus adaptive immunity lymphopenia immunological ageing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/12/4/224 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michielghbetjes uremiaassociatedageingofthethymusandadaptiveimmuneresponses |