Is it possible to enhance human life span by “preserving” the thymus gland in-situ in the human body?
The thymus gland plays an extremely important role in maintaining the immunity of the human body. Loss of the thymus at an early age through genetic mutation or surgical removal results in severe immunodeficiency and a high susceptibility to infection. (Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymus) Experiments done on animals have shown that if the thymus is removed before birth the baby will accept an organ transplant without rejecting it (it has lost its ability to recognize foreign tissue). At the same time that baby will exhibit little or no ability to fight off disease. Also animals that had their thymus removed would develop cancer rapidly upon injection of cancer cells into their body, while animals with an intact thymus would in most cases destroy the cells. (Reference: http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/bodyimmune/961/)
The thymus gland shrinks with age…the thymus shrinks radically during adolescence, and continues to shrink throughout life, leaving the body less able to defend it-self against bacteria, viruses, cancer cells and other invaders. By the time…[the body reaches] 60s and 70s, …[the] immune system may have a harder time fighting off disease because the thymus is so small it can no longer produce a rich supply of T cells, which help your body fight off foreign invaders. (Reference: http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/25/Seniority/Thymus_is_critical_to.shtml)
If we were to preserve the thymus gland by artificial means, can it lead to increase in human life span?
It is known that the thymus gland atrophies because of the effects of sex hormones. (Reference: Sutherland JS. Activation of thymic regeneration in mice and humans following androgen blockade. J Immunol 2005 15;175(4):2741-53). Artificial preservation of the thymus should be directed at isolating the cells of the thymus from sex hormones.
Isolation of the thymus can be achieved by culturing cells obtained from the thymus gland during the person’s childhood, and then encapsulating the mass of cells in a capsule made of a material that selectively allows certain materials while blocking factors that can cause cells to atrophy. [Nanomaterials ?] The capsule can then be implanted into the body and then its effects on the immune system of the body monitored.
Can such an approach be used to boost the body’s immunity in cases of immunodeficiency diseases like AIDS or upon exposure to high radiation levels?
