The thymus is the primary organ for T-cell generation, and a preserved thymic function is essential see more for a self-tolerant diverse T-cell repertoire. Transplant procedures and related immunosuppressive drugs may hinder thymic integrity and function. We review here the recent advances in understanding the regulation of the unique thymic microenvironment with relevance for the field of transplantation.
Recent findings
Recent
studies have assigned a role for IL-22 in the regeneration of thymic epithelium, and for microRNAs in the modulation of its survival and function. The interplay of key molecules in the cross-talk between thymic epithelial cells and thymocytes was depicted, opening new perspectives for the in-vitro recapitulation of T-cell development and for thymic transplantation. Additionally, the thymus was shown to be able to sustain thymocyte progenitor renewal.
Summary
These GKT137831 purchase findings open new venues of research toward therapeutic interventions in the endogenous thymus to modulate or reconstitute the immune system; thymic transplantation; and the future development of artificial thymus, which would represent an important tool to achieve tolerance across the histocompatibility barriers.”
“The far-infrared thermal imaging is a promising noncontact way to assess the working state of an implantable medical device (IMD). The unique merit of this method lies in its direct detection of the unusual skin surface
temperature distribution caused by the implanted IMD. This paper is dedicated to present a comprehensive investigation on the suitability of using far-infrared system to evaluate the thermal state at the skin surface above the implantation location of the IMD under various working, physiological, or environmental thermal conditions. It was found that an evident QNZ variation in temperature as disclosed on the skin surface is beneficial for the far-infrared thermal imaging detection. In addition, numerical simulations were also performed on three dimensional bioheat transfer problems in human
bodies embedded with IMD by different implantation depth and physical characteristics. Both theoretical analysis and numerical simulation indicated that for a specific image system with fixed temperature resolution, when the IMD is embedded as close as possible to the superficial skin, the abnormal region of temperature on skin surface can be much more visible. Conceptual experiments either in vitro or in vivo are implemented to preliminarily demonstrate the theoretical predictions. To further improve the detection of an implanted IMD, intentional cooling by the alcohol was proposed and evaluated. Given the fact that several information of an implanted IMD can be revealed through the infrared thermograph, such noncontact imaging method could serve well as an assessment approach without causing any wound and radiation to human body.”
“Cryopreservation is a method of keeping parasites alive in a laboratory.