Thyroid-thymus interactions during development and aging

Horm Res. 1989;31(1-2):85-9. doi: 10.1159/000181093.

Abstract

A good body of experimental and clinical evidences suggests that bidirectional interactions do exist between the neuroendocrine system and the thymus activity. In particular, thymic endocrine activity seems to be strongly influenced by neuroendocrine signals. In this context, studies performed in hyper- and hypothyroid subjects and in the low triiodothyronine (T3) syndrome, which affects premature infants, have clearly shown that thyroid hormones and in particular T3 physiologically modulate thymic peptide secretion. In vitro experiments, with thymic whole-organ cultures, have demonstrated that thyroid hormones exert their action on the epithelial cells of the thymus deputed to synthesize and secrete thymic peptides and that such an effect does not seem to depend on the known permissive action of thyroid hormones.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperthyroidism / blood
  • Hyperthyroidism / physiopathology
  • Hypothyroidism / blood
  • Hypothyroidism / physiopathology
  • Infant, Newborn / physiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Thymic Factor, Circulating / metabolism
  • Thymic Factor, Circulating / physiology
  • Thymus Gland / physiology*
  • Thyroid Gland / physiology*
  • Thyroid Hormones / physiology

Substances

  • Thyroid Hormones
  • Thymic Factor, Circulating