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Pharmacological modulation of caspase-8 in thymus-related medical conditions.
- Source :
-
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics [J Pharmacol Exp Ther] 2014 Oct; Vol. 351 (1), pp. 18-24. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Jul 24. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- The thymus is a lymphoid organ that governs the development of a diverse T-cell repertoire capable of defending against nonself-antigens and avoiding autoimmunity. However, the thymus can also succumb to different diseases. Hypertrophic diseases, such as thymomas, are typically associated with impairment of negative selection, which leads to autoimmune disease, or disruption of positive selection, which results in immunodeficiency. Hypotrophic diseases of the thymus can manifest during acute infections, cancer, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, or with aging. This condition leads to decreased immune function and can be treated by either replacing lost thymic tissue or by preventing thymic tissue death. Studies have demonstrated the critical role of caspase-8 in regulating apoptosis in the thymus. In this review, we discuss how pharmacological activation and inhibition of caspase-8 can be used to treat hypertrophic and hypotrophic diseases of the thymus, respectively, to improve its function.<br /> (Copyright © 2014 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Antineoplastic Agents pharmacology
Antineoplastic Agents therapeutic use
Caspase Inhibitors therapeutic use
Humans
Hypertrophy drug therapy
Hypertrophy metabolism
Immunologic Factors pharmacology
Immunologic Factors therapeutic use
Thymoma metabolism
Thymus Gland enzymology
Thymus Gland pathology
Thymus Neoplasms metabolism
Caspase 8 metabolism
Caspase Inhibitors pharmacology
Thymoma drug therapy
Thymus Gland drug effects
Thymus Neoplasms drug therapy
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1521-0103
- Volume :
- 351
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25060674
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.114.216572