Hj. Schuurman et Cf. Kuper, PATHOLOGY OF THE THYMUS - CHANGES INDUCED BY XENOBIOTICS AND GENE TARGETING, APMIS. Acta pathologica, microbiologica et immunologica Scandinavica, 103(7-8), 1995, pp. 481-500
Studies on the thymus in pathologic conditions have been of great help
in the elucidation of the function of the organ in T-cell development
. The first examples come from congenital immunodeficiency states in m
an and laboratory animals. A number of toxic substances affect differe
nt components of the thymus already at exposure levels where there is
no effect on the peripheral immune system. In some cases, this thymoto
xic effect has been causally related to defects in the peripheral immu
ne system (immunodeficiency and autoimmunity). In recent years immunod
eficient states have been created in mouse by disruption of genes codi
ng immunologically relevant molecules. Studies on such gene 'knock-out
' mice have shown that a number of molecules, are indispensable for ap
propriate T-cell development at different stages in the thymus, wherea
s others are dispensable. It is concluded that the experimental approa
ch combining gene targeting and exposure to thymotoxic xenobiotics wil
l present interesting tools for further studies in thymus research.