Multilocular thymic tuberculosis

Ganesan, S; Ganesan, Kandasamy

doi:10.1259/bjr/61571398

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Interestingly, HIV and M. tuberculosis , two of the most important pathogens in infants and young children, are both able to infect the thymus (16, 60) and thymic infection alters the output and selection of T cells in experimental models using these pathogens (9, 19). The evidence that thymic infection can compromise thymic function implies that the recruitment of protective immune responses to the thymus is essential to prevent detrimental alterations in immunological function.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both in humans and animal models the thymus is itself a target of infection (7–19). Infection of the thymus by mycobacterial species has been reported both in humans (16) and in animal models (17–19). The incidence of thymic infection during active tuberculosis is unknown although there are several case reports in the clinical literature (16).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Infection of the thymus by mycobacterial species has been reported both in humans (16) and in animal models (17–19). The incidence of thymic infection during active tuberculosis is unknown although there are several case reports in the clinical literature (16). However, it is relevant that vertical transmission of tuberculosis (mother to child) frequently occurs during early childhood, at the height of thymic activity (20).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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T Cells Home to the Thymus and Control Infection

Nóbrega

Nunes-Alves

Cerqueira-Rodrigues

et al. 2013

The Journal of Immunology

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The thymus is a target of multiple pathogens. How the immune system responds to thymic infection is largely unknown. Despite being considered an immune privileged organ, we detect a mycobacteria-specific T cell response in the thymus following dissemination of Mycobacterium avium or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This response includes pro-inflammatory cytokine production by mycobacteria-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, which stimulates infected cells and controls bacterial growth in the thymus. Importantly, the responding T cells are mature peripheral T cells that recirculate back to the thymus. The recruitment of these cells is associated with an increased expression of Th1 chemokines and an enrichment of CXCR3+ mycobacteria-specific T cells in the thymus. Finally, we demonstrate it is the mature T cells that home to the thymus that most efficiently control mycobacterial infection. Although the presence of mature T cells in the thymus has been recognized for some time, these data are the first to show that T cell recirculation from the periphery to the thymus is a mechanism that allows the immune system to respond to thymic infection. Maintaining a functional thymic environment is essential to maintain T cell differentiation and prevent the emergence of central tolerance to the invading pathogens.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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T Cells Home to the Thymus and Control Infection

Nóbrega

Nunes-Alves

Cerqueira-Rodrigues

et al. 2013

The Journal of Immunology

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“…Germ cell tumour, in particular seminoma and HL, should be of primary concern. Although rare, thymic tuberculosis should also be considered, which may also present as multicystic disease 172–176 …”

Section: General Remarksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tumours and tumour‐like conditions of the thymus other than thymoma; a practical approach

Bakker

Oosterhuis

2009

Histopathology

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Masses within the thymus and mediastinum are frequently biopsied to establish a diagnosis. The specimens sent for histopathological analysis are typically small (needle) biopsy specimens on which the pathologist is challenged to provide a classifying diagnosis. Despite the fact that the pathology of the anterior mediastinum is predominantly centred on the thymus and it thus might be expected that the range of possible diagnoses is limited, the list of disease entities is in fact extensive, encompassing hyperplastic conditions and both benign and malignant neoplasms. In addition to primary thymic epithelial tumours, a number of less common diseases typical for this location may be encountered, including extragonadal germ cell tumours, lymphomas, soft tissue tumours and a number of conditions which may simulate a tumour, such as cysts and inflammatory conditions. In this review, the disease entities that may be encountered in biopsy material from anterior mediastinal/thymic processes are discussed and an approach to tackle the differential diagnosis is provided.

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“…A few recent case reports showed the thymus to be an additional site for mycobacterial dissemination (5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Using the mouse as a model, we previously showed that the thymus is a target for mycobacterial dissemination, regardless of whether the route of infection used is i.v.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Dissemination of Mycobacteria to the Thymus Renders Newly Generated T Cells Tolerant to the Invading Pathogen

Nóbrega

Roque

Nunes-Alves

et al. 2009

The Journal of Immunology

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The ability of the thymus to generate a population of T cells that is, for the most part, self-restricted and self-tolerant depends to a great extent on the Ags encountered during differentiation. We recently showed that mycobacteria disseminate to the thymus, which raised the questions of how mycobacteria within the thymus influence T cell differentiation and whether such an effect impacts host–pathogen interactions. Athymic nude mice were reconstituted with thymic grafts from Mycobacterium avium-infected or control noninfected donors. T cells generated from thymi of infected donors seemed generally normal, because they retained the ability to reconstitute the periphery and to respond to unspecific stimuli in vitro as well as to antigenic stimulation with third-party Ags, such as OVA, upon in vivo immunization. However, these cells were unable to mount a protective immune response against a challenge with M. avium. The observation that thymic infection interferes with T cell differentiation, generating T cells that are tolerant to pathogen-specific Ags, is of relevance to understand the immune response during chronic persistent infections. In addition, it has potential implications for the repertoire of T cells generated in patients with a mycobacterial infection recovering from severe lymphopenia, such as patients coinfected with HIV and receiving antiretroviral therapy.

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Multilocular thymic tuberculosis

Cited by 9 publications

References 5 publications

T Cells Home to the Thymus and Control Infection

T Cells Home to the Thymus and Control Infection

Tumours and tumour‐like conditions of the thymus other than thymoma; a practical approach

Dissemination of Mycobacteria to the Thymus Renders Newly Generated T Cells Tolerant to the Invading Pathogen

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