Scientists regenerate vital immune organ in mice
- 10 years ago
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UK scientists have successfully regenerated a vital immune organ in mice for the very first time, a significant breakthrough that may help reverse ageing in the future.
The immune system weakens as one ages, which is largely due to a shrinking thymus, an organ that sits near the heart. The thymus produces T-cells, which help fight infections as part of the immune system. The supply of such cells diminishes in older people.
In order to regenerate the thymus in mice, researchers from the Edinburgh University injected tamoxifen, a drug often used to treat breast cancer patients, in elderly mice. The drug boosts production of a protein named FOXN1 in the thymus, which can in turn enlarge the thymus.
However, the success does not mean that the production of the FOXN1 protein will increase once tamoxifen is injected in the body. The research team bred a special kind of mouse whose FOXN1 protein production could be accelerated by the chemical.
"During the one-month experiment the mice's thymus increased more than twice in size; meaning more T-cells were produced by the elderly mice.
Such experiments may be carried out in humans in the future, but they will have to be tightly controlled in order to prevent the immune system from attacking the body.
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UK scientists have successfully regenerated a vital immune organ in mice for the very first time, a significant breakthrough that may help reverse ageing in the future.
The immune system weakens as one ages, which is largely due to a shrinking thymus, an organ that sits near the heart. The thymus produces T-cells, which help fight infections as part of the immune system. The supply of such cells diminishes in older people.
In order to regenerate the thymus in mice, researchers from the Edinburgh University injected tamoxifen, a drug often used to treat breast cancer patients, in elderly mice. The drug boosts production of a protein named FOXN1 in the thymus, which can in turn enlarge the thymus.
However, the success does not mean that the production of the FOXN1 protein will increase once tamoxifen is injected in the body. The research team bred a special kind of mouse whose FOXN1 protein production could be accelerated by the chemical.
"During the one-month experiment the mice's thymus increased more than twice in size; meaning more T-cells were produced by the elderly mice.
Such experiments may be carried out in humans in the future, but they will have to be tightly controlled in order to prevent the immune system from attacking the body.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US news, celebrity gossip, salacious scandals, dumb criminals and much more! Subscribe now for daily news animations that will knock your socks off.
Check out our Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nextmedia.gan
Check out our iOS app: https://itunes.apple.com/app/tomonews/id633875353
For news that's fun and never boring, visit our channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/TomoNewsUS
Subscribe to stay updated on all the top stories:
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