Age-Related Involution Of The Thymus

Abstract

The article is devoted to age-related involution of the thymus. It has been established that with
pronounced atrophy, the thymus still performs its function and supports the differentiation of T cells.
Apparently, age-related involution is a quantitative, not a qualitative process, since there is evidence of fullfledged proliferation of thymocytes and rearrangement of TcR in the aging thymus. In addition, from a
histological point of view, the residual zones of the cortex and medulla look normal and remain
immunocompetent, and the role of the thymus in the renewal of the peripheral pool of T lymphocytes after
antiretroviral therapy, chemotherapy and transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells in adults has been noted.
Key words: thymus, age-related involution, influencing factors, characteristic features.