Thymic function in adults: evidence derived from immune recovery patterns following myeloablative chemotherapy and stem cell infusion

• Published in: British journal of haematology Vol. 97; no. 3; pp. 673 - 676
• Main Authors: Cavenagh, J. D., Milne, T. M., Macey, M. G., Newland, A. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-06-1997; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antigens, CD - immunology; Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; autologous bone marrow transplantation; Biological and medical sciences; Combined treatments (chemotherapy of immunotherapy associated with an other treatment); Hematologic Neoplasms - physiopathology; Hematologic Neoplasms - therapy; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Lymphatic Diseases - physiopathology; Lymphocyte Count; Lymphopenia - immunology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; peripheral blood stem cell transplantation; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; thymus; Thymus Gland - physiopathology; Transplantation Conditioning; Transplantation Immunology; Human; Antineoplastic agent; Transfusion; Thymus gland; Stem cell; Hematopoietic cell; Malignant hemopathy; Blood; Autograft; Chemotherapy; Bone marrow; Adult; Graft; Combined treatment
• ISSN: 0007-1048; 1365-2141
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.1997.982913.x

We studied 45 patients aged 14–66 years who had undergone stem cell transplantation for a variety of malignant conditions at least 12 months previously. Compared to normal controls, they had significantly reduced absolute numbers of CD4+, CD4+CD45RA+ and CD4+CD45RO+ T cells and a reduced CD4+CD45RA+: CD4+CD45RO+ ratio. In all subsets T‐cell numbers were significantly greater 24 months, compared to 12–24 months, after transplantation and there was a non‐significant trend towards lower T‐cell numbers with increasing age. We conclude that the thymus, or putative thymic‐equivalent tissue, remains functional in older adults.