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Thymus Gland: A Double Edge Sword for Coronaviruses.
Al-Suhaimi, Ebtesam A; Aljafary, Meneerah A; Alkhulaifi, Fadwa M; Aldossary, Hanan A; Alshammari, Thamer; Al-Qaaneh, Ayman; Aldahhan, Razan; Alkhalifah, Zahra; Gaymalov, Zagit Z; Shehzad, Adeeb; Homeida, Abdelgadir M.
  • Al-Suhaimi EA; Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
  • Aljafary MA; Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
  • Alkhulaifi FM; Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
  • Aldossary HA; Epidemic Diseases Research Department, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
  • Alshammari T; Genetic Research Department, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
  • Al-Qaaneh A; Genetic Research Department, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
  • Aldahhan R; Clinical Pharmacy Services Division, Pharmacy Services Department, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH), Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia.
  • Alkhalifah Z; Stem Cell Research Department, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
  • Gaymalov ZZ; Genetic Research Department, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
  • Shehzad A; Earlystage OÜ, Lasnamäe Linnaosa, Sepapaja tn 6, Harju Maakond, 15551 Tallinn, Estonia.
  • Homeida AM; Clinical Pharmacy Research Department, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
Vaccines (Basel) ; 9(10)2021 Oct 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1512715
ABSTRACT
The thymus is the main lymphoid organ that regulates the immune and endocrine systems by controlling thymic cell proliferation and differentiation. The gland is a primary lymphoid organ responsible for generating mature T cells into CD4+ or CD8+ single-positive (SP) T cells, contributing to cellular immunity. Regarding humoral immunity, the thymic plasma cells almost exclusively secrete IgG1 and IgG3, the two main complement-fixing effector IgG subclasses. Deformity in the thymus can lead to inflammatory diseases. Hassall's corpuscles' epithelial lining produces thymic stromal lymphopoietin, which induces differentiation of CDs thymocytes into regulatory T cells within the thymus medulla. Thymic B lymphocytes produce immunoglobulins and immunoregulating hormones, including thymosin. Modulation in T cell and naive T cells decrement due to thymus deformity induce alteration in the secretion of various inflammatory factors, resulting in multiple diseases. Influenza virus activates thymic CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes and a large amount of IFNγ. IFNs limit virus spread, enhance macrophages' phagocytosis, and promote the natural killer cell restriction activity against infected cells. Th2 lymphocytes-produced cytokine IL-4 can bind to antiviral INFγ, decreasing the cell susceptibility and downregulating viral receptors. COVID-19 epitopes (S, M, and N proteins) with ≥90% identity to the SARS-CoV sequence have been predicted. These epitopes trigger immunity for antibodies production. Boosting the immune system by improving thymus function can be a therapeutic strategy for preventing virus-related diseases. This review aims to summarize the endocrine-immunoregulatory functions of the thymus and the underlying mechanisms in the prevention of COVID-19.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Prognostic study Language: English Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Vaccines9101119

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Prognostic study Language: English Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Vaccines9101119