@article {8007,
	title = {Age-related thymic activity in adults following chemotherapy-induced lymphopenia},
	journal = {European Journal of Clinical Investigation},
	volume = {35},
	year = {2005},
	note = {Cited By :34Export Date: 21 February 2017},
	month = {2005},
	pages = {380 - 387},
	abstract = {Background: The potential role of the adult thymus in T-cell homeostasis subsequent to lymphopenia remains the subject of debate. We examined whether thymic activity contributes to reconstitution of the peripheral T-cell pool, a critical process for patients recovering from antineoplastic therapy. Methods: In selected patients with various neoplastic diseases we assessed peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets by flow-cytometry, including thymus-derived, CD4+ T cells expressing the CD45RA molecule, and thymic size rebound by CT scan before, and 3, 6 and 12 months after completion of cytotoxic therapy. Results: Adult patients (n = 21, mean age of 30 years, range 18-49) had higher baseline numbers of B and lower numbers of NK cells than elderly patients (n = 15, mean age of 79 years, range 70-91), while total T-cell numbers did not differ. Despite the reduction of lymphocyte counts being comparable in the adult (mean of 45\%) and elderly (mean of 49\%) groups, occurring at, or near, completion of treatment, an enlargement of the previously atrophic thymus was evident in 63\% of the adult, but in none of the elderly, subjects. In 22 patients who remained active disease-free during the following year, B cells and NK cells recovered to pretreatment levels as soon as at 3 months, whereas overall T-cell recovery occurred at 6 months post-treatment. Thymic rebound, observed in 11 of 22 patients who were of younger age, correlated significantly with a faster and more complete recovery of CD45RA+ CD4+ (mainly helper-na{\"\i}ve) T cells. Conclusion: The adult thymus appears capable of regeneration, at least up to middle age, contributing significantly to the reconstitution of the peripheral T-cell pool following chemotherapy-induced lymphopenia. In advanced age, however, although peripheral homeostatic pathways appear intact, regeneration of the na{\"\i}ve repertoire is incomplete. {\textcopyright} 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.},
	keywords = {Aging, Immune senescence, Lymphopenia, T-Cell, Thymus},
	url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-20444493243\&doi=10.1111\%2fj.1365-2362.2005.01499.x\&partnerID=40\&md5=edd6df00a422bc36770dd036c7279c36},
	author = {Sfikakis, P.P. and Gourgoulis, G.M. and Moulopoulos, L.A. and Kouvatseas, G. and Theofilopoulos, A.N. and Dimopoulos, M.A.}
}
