Advances in molecular genetics provide opportunities for widening the range of athymic conditions that Researchers can treat. In contrast, advances in cell culture and organ/tissue regeneration may offer the prospect of alternative preparations of thymic tissue. There are potential broader applications of this treatment outside congenital athymia.

At the same time, as further characterization of the cultured thymus product in terms of thymic epithelial cells and lymphoid composition, preclinical studies have looked at the de-novo generation of thymic epithelial cells from stem cells and explored scaffolds for delivering these as three-dimensional structures. In the era of newborn screening for T-cell lymphopenia, a broadening range of defects leading to athymia is being recognized, and new assays should allow differentiation of these from hematopoietic cell defects, pending their genetic/molecular characterization. Evidence suggests that Researchers could exploit the tolerogenic effect of the transplanted thymus to improve outcomes after solid organ transplantation.

The study concluded that thymus transplantation is the accepted standard treatment for complete DiGeorge syndrome. It is also appropriate for other genetic defects leading to athymia. Improved strategies for generating thymus may lead to better outcomes and broader application of this treatment.

Reference: https://journals.lww.com/co-allergy/Abstract/2020/12000/Replacing_defective_thymus_function.2.aspx

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