Wnt信号通路与胸腺发育

IThe thymus represents a central lymphoid organ for T lymphocytes development and maturation. Through negative and positive selection, lymphoid progenitor cells which stem from bone marrow develop into mature T cells in the thymus, and then involve in peripheral cell immunity. It is reported that Wnt signaling pathway exits widely in both thymic epithelia cells and T lymphocytes. It not only affects the shape and function of thymic epithelia cells, but also plays an important role in maintaining the pro-T-cells and subsequent T cells differentiation development. In recent studies, it is found that Wnt signaling pathway also participates in the age-related thymus involution, and the change of Wnt signaling pathway causes destruction of epithelia network structure of thymus , eventually leading to microenvironmental damage of thymus. Therefore, for exploring the regulation mechanism of age-related thymus involution and improving the aged's health conditions, the studies on the effect of Wnt signaling pathway in the thymus development have important significance.