Not Just a “Disposable” Organ: Your Thymus May Be Saving Your Life

by Henrik Andersen
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fokus keyword thymus organ

The thymus organ, once thought to be expendable in adults and often compared in size to a walnut, is now understood to have a vital role in adult immune health, according to a study led by Harvard. Researchers found that those who had their thymus removed were at a considerably higher risk of death, including a doubled risk of cancer.

Contrary to previous beliefs that the thymus becomes less essential after childhood, recent research has illuminated its critical function in maintaining immune health and preventing cancer in adulthood. It is located in the chest, and for various medical reasons, it has often been removed.

The study analyzed data from individuals who had their thymus taken out and compared it to those who did not. It found that the risk of death, including from cancer and autoimmune diseases, was nearly three times higher for those who had the organ removed. Specifically, cancer risk doubled.

David Scadden, who led the study, expressed astonishment at the magnitude of the risk and emphasized that the thymus’s role appears to be primarily related to cancer prevention. The research was published in The New England Journal of Medicine, in collaboration with researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Despite its tendency to atrophy into fatty tissue around puberty, the thymus continues to contribute to the body’s overall T-cell population, an aspect that has become more recognized in recent years.

Kameron Kooshesh, the first author of the study, became intrigued by conflicting views about the thymus in adults and delved into data from over 1,100 patients who had the organ removed. The study found a higher rate of death among those who had undergone thymus removal compared to the general U.S. population.

Technological advancements in the rapid genetic sequencing of T-cell receptors allowed for detailed analysis, revealing that patients without a thymus had reduced new T-cell production and higher levels of small proteins associated with autoimmunity and cancer.

The significance of the thymus’s role in immune function was underlined by the findings, especially the unexpected magnitude of death and cancer in patients who had the organ removed.

This research was backed by various funding sources, including the Tracey and Craig A. Huff Harvard Stem Cell Institute Research Support Fund, the National Institutes of Health, and the Swedish Research Council.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword thymus organ

What is the main finding of the Harvard-led study on the thymus organ?

The study discovered that the thymus organ plays a vital role in maintaining immune health and preventing cancer in adults. Those who had their thymus removed faced a much higher risk of death from various causes, including a doubled risk of cancer.

Why was the thymus organ previously considered expendable in adults?

For many decades, scientists assumed the thymus served a limited purpose in adulthood since it begins to atrophy into fatty tissue around puberty. The new research contradicts this belief by highlighting its ongoing role in immune health.

How was the data for the research gathered and analyzed?

The research team analyzed data from 1,146 adult patients who underwent thymus removal, comparing it to demographically matched control patients who kept their thymus. They used recent advances in rapid genetic sequencing of T-cell receptors to further analyze the findings.

What were the specific risks found in individuals who had their thymus removed?

The findings revealed that those who had their thymus removed faced an almost threefold higher risk of death from various causes, including cancer and autoimmune diseases. The risk of cancer specifically doubled, and there was a modest increase in autoimmune disease risk.

Who were the key researchers involved in the study?

The study was led by David Scadden, the Gerald and Darlene Jordan Professor of Medicine, and it involved collaboration with researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, including Kameron Kooshesh, Brody Foy, David B. Sykes, and Karin Gustafsson.

Where was the study published, and when?

The study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine on 3 August 2023.

What does the study imply about the importance of the thymus in aging adults?

The study implies that the thymus continues to play an outsized role in our health as we age, specifically in producing T-cells that contribute to the diversity of the body’s overall T-cell population. It challenges the notion that the thymus is vestigial in adults.

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