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

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Abstract
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.

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