Australian scientists discover new cell that drives the aging process

Australian scientists have solved the mystery of why the organ responsible for human immune defense shrinks and loses strength as we age by discovering new cells that drive the aging process of the thymus, which may pave the way for methods and treatments to prevent thymus aging. According to Xinhua News Agency, researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne discovered the gland, which is located in the upper part of the human body. The abdomen, specifically below the breastbone, is the only organ in the body that can produce T lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that helps fight pathogens and eliminate infected cells or cancer cells.

The problem is, however, that this gland is the first organ in the body to start shrinking with age, which can lead to a drop in T cell production and a weakened immune system. The research team has discovered two new types of cells that cause the thymus to lose function.

Using advanced imaging techniques and animal models, the researchers showed that these cells – found only in the defective thymus glands of humans and older mice – form clusters around areas where T cells grow, impairing T cell production and causing “scarring” in the thymus gland, preventing the organ from recovering after damage.

Professor Daniel Gray, head of the institute’s laboratory, said: “T cell production decreases significantly after puberty and virtually stops by the age of 65, making it difficult for the body to respond to new infections and cancers.

This is also why it takes longer for adults than children to recover when their immune systems are depleted by cancer treatment or stem cell transplants, a media statement explained.

Gray said the findings provide a new perspective on thymus regeneration and immune restoration and may reveal future ways to enhance immune function in high-risk patients. “This is the first study to demonstrate changes that occur within the thymus gland as we age that affect how it functions.” The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers at Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.