Laboratory on Thymus Research (W.S.), Department of Immunology,
Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, 21045–900 Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil; and CNRS UMR 8603 (M.D.), Université Paris V,
Hôpital Necker, 75015 Paris, France
The thymus gland is a central lymphoid organ in which bone
marrow-derivedT cell precursors undergo differentiation, eventually
leadingto migration of positively selected thymocytes to the
peripherallymphoid organs. This differentiation occurs along with cell
migrationin the context of the thymic microenvironment, formed of
epithelialcells, macrophages, dendritic cells, fibroblasts, and
extracellularmatrix components. Various interactions occurring between
microenvironmentalcells and differentiating thymocytes are under
neuroendocrinecontrol. In this review, we summarize data showing that
thymusphysiology is pleiotropically influenced by hormones and
neuropeptides.These molecules modulate the expression of major
histocompatibilitycomplex gene products by microenvironmental cells
and the extracellularmatrix-mediated interactions, leading to enhanced
thymocyteadhesion to thymic epithelial cells. Cytokine production and
thymicendocrine function (herein exemplified by thymulin production)
arealso hormonally controlled, and, interestingly in this lattercase,
a bidirectional circuitry seems to exist since thymic-derivedpeptides
also modulate hormonal production.
In addition to their role in thymic cell proliferation and apoptosis,
hormonesand neuropeptides also modulate intrathymic T cell
differentiation,influencing the generation of the T cell repertoire.
Finally, neuroendocrine control of the thymus appears extremely
complex,with possible influence of biological circuitry involving the
intrathymicproduction of a variety of hormones and neuropeptides and
theexpression of their respective receptors by thymic cells.
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