Cited by 278T-cell and B-cell ImmunologyImmunodeficiency and Autoimmune DisordersImmune responses and vaccinations

Evidence of premature immune aging in patients thymectomized during early childhood

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Sauce, Delphine, Larsen, Martin, Fastenackels, Solène, Duperrier, Anne, Keller, Michael, Grubeck-Loebenstein, Beatrix, Ferrand, Christophe, Debré, Patrice +2 more·2009·Journal of Clinical Investigation

Abstract

While the thymus is known to be essential for the initial production of T cells during early life, its contribution to immune development remains a matter of debate. In fact, during cardiac surgery in newborns, the thymus is completely resected to enable better access to the heart to correct congenital heart defects, suggesting that it may be dispensable during childhood and adulthood. Here, we show that young adults thymectomized during early childhood exhibit an altered T cell compartment. Specifically, absolute CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts were decreased, and these T cell populations showed substantial loss of naive cells and accumulation of oligoclonal memory cells. A subgroup of these young patients (22 years old) exhibited a particularly altered T cell profile that is usually seen in elderly individuals (more than 75 years old). This condition was directly related to CMV infection and the induction of strong CMV-specific T cell responses, which may exhaust the naive T cell pool in the absence of adequate T cell renewal from the thymus. Together, these marked immunological alterations are reminiscent of the immune risk phenotype, which is defined by a cluster of immune markers predictive of increased mortality in the elderly. Overall, our data highlight the importance of the thymus in maintaining the integrity of T cell immunity during adult life.

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  • Studies of young thymectomy subjects showed that reduced thymic function and lower production of naïve T cells, together with consumption of these cells, lead to reduced numbers of naïve T cells.

    “These studies showed that, independently from age, reduced thymic function and lower production of naïve T cells, together with the consumption of these cells (e.g., upon activation and differentiation during a viral infection), lead to reduced numbers of naïve T cells [75,76].”

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Authors
Sauce, D., Larsen, M., Fastenackels, S., Duperrier, A., Keller, M., Grubeck-Loebenstein, B., Ferrand, C., Debré, P., Sidi, D., & Appay, V.
Affiliations
  • Inserm (FR)
  • US Forest Service (US)
  • Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades (FR)
Corresponding author
Appay, Victor
Venue
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Published
2009-10-01
Volume
119
Issue
10
Pages
3070-3078
ISSN
0021-9738 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2153680933
Cited by
278
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 22
FWCI
10.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Clinical Investigation (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon online (Institut für kunst- und musikhistorische Forschungen der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Austrian Biographical Dictionary (Austrian Academy of Sciences) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Sidaction
  • Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunodeficiency and Autoimmune Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune responses and vaccinations
Keywords
thymectomy, thymus, T cell compartment, naive T cells, cytomegalovirus infection, CMV-specific T-cell responses, T cell exhaustion, congenital heart surgery, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Child, Preschool, Cytomegalovirus Infections, Humans, Immune System, Infant, Newborn, Middle Aged, Thymectomy, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, T-Lymphocyte Subsets, Cytokines, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Young Adult

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