BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Thymic hormone deficiency in normal ageing and Down's syndrome: is there a primary failure of the thymus? 1984

N Fabris, and E Mocchegiani, and L Amadio, and M Zannotti, and F Licastro, and C Franceschi

Normal individuals aged over 50 and most young Down's syndrome (DS) subjects had markedly reduced concentrations of circulating thymic hormone (facteur thymique sérique, FTS). Plasma from these two groups contained factors capable of inhibiting biological activity of FTS in vitro. Addition of zinc sulphate to plasma samples from DS subjects or the older individuals induced concentrations of FTS comparable to those observed in young healthy people and completely prevented FTS-inhibitory activity. These findings suggest that biologically active circulating thymic hormone is bound to zinc. The decline in thymic hormone activity in older individuals and DS subjects may be the result of changes in the mechanism of zinc-dependent activation of FTS molecules, which are probably associated with marginal zinc deficiency rather than with a primary failure of the thymus. Addition of zinc salt to plasma samples unmasks the presence of inactive FTS molecules.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007153 Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes Syndromes in which there is a deficiency or defect in the mechanisms of immunity, either cellular or humoral. Antibody Deficiency Syndrome,Deficiency Syndrome, Immunologic,Deficiency Syndromes, Antibody,Deficiency Syndromes, Immunologic,Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome,Immunological Deficiency Syndromes,Antibody Deficiency Syndromes,Deficiency Syndrome, Antibody,Deficiency Syndrome, Immunological,Deficiency Syndromes, Immunological,Immunological Deficiency Syndrome,Syndrome, Antibody Deficiency,Syndrome, Immunologic Deficiency,Syndrome, Immunological Deficiency,Syndromes, Antibody Deficiency,Syndromes, Immunologic Deficiency,Syndromes, Immunological Deficiency
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D008970 Molecular Weight The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule. Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D004314 Down Syndrome A chromosome disorder associated either with an extra CHROMOSOME 21 or an effective TRISOMY for chromosome 21. Clinical manifestations include HYPOTONIA, short stature, BRACHYCEPHALY, upslanting palpebral fissures, epicanthus, Brushfield spots on the iris, protruding tongue, small ears, short, broad hands, fifth finger clinodactyly, single transverse palmar crease, and moderate to severe INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY. Cardiac and gastrointestinal malformations, a marked increase in the incidence of LEUKEMIA, and the early onset of ALZHEIMER DISEASE are also associated with this condition. Pathologic features include the development of NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES in neurons and the deposition of AMYLOID BETA-PROTEIN, similar to the pathology of ALZHEIMER DISEASE. (Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p213) Mongolism,Trisomy 21,47,XX,+21,47,XY,+21,Down Syndrome, Partial Trisomy 21,Down's Syndrome,Partial Trisomy 21 Down Syndrome,Trisomy 21, Meiotic Nondisjunction,Trisomy 21, Mitotic Nondisjunction,Trisomy G,Downs Syndrome,Syndrome, Down,Syndrome, Down's
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths

Related Publications

N Fabris, and E Mocchegiani, and L Amadio, and M Zannotti, and F Licastro, and C Franceschi
Thymic deficiency in Down's syndrome.
January 1979, Pediatrics,
N Fabris, and E Mocchegiani, and L Amadio, and M Zannotti, and F Licastro, and C Franceschi
Normal ageing in adults with Down's syndrome: a longitudinal study.
June 1996, Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR,
N Fabris, and E Mocchegiani, and L Amadio, and M Zannotti, and F Licastro, and C Franceschi
Growth hormone deficiency in Down's syndrome children.
February 1992, Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR,
N Fabris, and E Mocchegiani, and L Amadio, and M Zannotti, and F Licastro, and C Franceschi
Ageing in Down's syndrome.
April 1985, Lancet (London, England),
N Fabris, and E Mocchegiani, and L Amadio, and M Zannotti, and F Licastro, and C Franceschi
[Ageing in Down's syndrome].
June 1986, Harefuah,
N Fabris, and E Mocchegiani, and L Amadio, and M Zannotti, and F Licastro, and C Franceschi
Ageing in Down's syndrome.
July 1985, The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science,
N Fabris, and E Mocchegiani, and L Amadio, and M Zannotti, and F Licastro, and C Franceschi
Ageing in Down's syndrome.
May 1985, Lancet (London, England),
N Fabris, and E Mocchegiani, and L Amadio, and M Zannotti, and F Licastro, and C Franceschi
[Cockayne syndrome: a case with thymic hormone deficiency].
April 1986, Annales de pediatrie,
N Fabris, and E Mocchegiani, and L Amadio, and M Zannotti, and F Licastro, and C Franceschi
Clinical, immunological and histopathological evidence for thymic deficiency in Down's syndrome (mongolism).
January 1976, Advances in experimental medicine and biology,
N Fabris, and E Mocchegiani, and L Amadio, and M Zannotti, and F Licastro, and C Franceschi
Oxidative stress and ageing: is ageing a cysteine deficiency syndrome?
December 2005, Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences,
Copied contents to your clipboard!