Australian scientists have made a breakthrough by discovering the cause of the atrophy and weakening of the organ responsible for protecting the human immune system as people age.
According to a study published on August 15, researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) in Melbourne, Australia, have identified new cells that accelerate the aging process in the thymus.
Scientists discovered new cells that promote the aging process in the thymus. (Illustrative image: Slohealthcenter).
The researchers believe this discovery could help prevent age-related immune decline.
Located in the upper chest, beneath the sternum, the thymus is the only organ in the body capable of producing T lymphocytes—also known as T cells—a type of white blood cell that helps fight pathogens and eliminate infected or cancerous cells.
However, the thymus is also the first organ in the body to shrink with age, leading to decreased T cell production and a weakened immune system.
Using advanced imaging techniques and animal models, the WEHI research team discovered two types of new cells that impair thymus function.
These cells, which are only found in the defective thymus of the elderly and in mice, cluster around regions of T cell growth, weakening the production process and preventing the organ from self-repairing after damage.
Professor Daniel Gray, head of the WEHI laboratory, stated that T cell production significantly decreases after puberty and nearly ceases by the age of 65, making it difficult for the body to cope with infections and cancer.
This also explains why older adults with compromised immune systems, such as those undergoing cancer treatment or organ transplants, take longer to recover compared to children.
This discovery provides a new perspective on thymus regeneration and immune recovery, and may open pathways to enhance immune function in vulnerable patients.
The research was conducted in collaboration with scientists from the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, USA.
