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Thy(–im)munosenescence: The Ageing of the Thymus and Its Impact on the Immune System

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Immunosenescence

Part of the book series: Birkhäuser Advances in Infectious Diseases ((BAID))

Abstract

The function of the thymus strongly decreases with age and this process is accelerated upon puberty. Based on this observation and the knowledge of the central role of the thymus for the maturation of naïve CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, a contribution of the thymus involution to the ageing of the immune system has been postulated. In this chapter, after a brief description of the role of the thymus for immunity, its involution during ageing and the impact on the immunity in the elderly are described. Furthermore, I will discuss attempts to boost thymus function aiming at a rejuvenation of the “old” immune system.

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  1. Experimental Neurology, Charité Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany

    S. Kohler

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  1. S. Kohler
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Correspondence to S. Kohler .

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  1. Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin-Brandenburg Center for, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin, 13353, Germany

    Andreas Thiel

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Kohler, S. (2012). Thy(–im)munosenescence: The Ageing of the Thymus and Its Impact on the Immune System. In: Thiel, A. (eds) Immunosenescence. Birkhäuser Advances in Infectious Diseases. Springer, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0346-0219-8_3

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