On a causal mechanism of chronic thymic involution in man
M Hartwig, G Steinmann - Mechanisms of ageing and development, 1994 - Elsevier
The age-associated chronic thymus involution is interpreted to occur due to cytolytic
depletion of thymic stromal tissue whose cells present altered self-peptides. Using simplified
assumptions and based on morphometric data on thymic involution in man, the chance for a
single protein to be altered is estimated to be in the range of 2–4× 10− 6 per year. The
corresponding mutation rate is compatible with that derived from both evolutionary and
direct studies, thus supporting the proposed model.
depletion of thymic stromal tissue whose cells present altered self-peptides. Using simplified
assumptions and based on morphometric data on thymic involution in man, the chance for a
single protein to be altered is estimated to be in the range of 2–4× 10− 6 per year. The
corresponding mutation rate is compatible with that derived from both evolutionary and
direct studies, thus supporting the proposed model.