TY  - JOUR
AU  - Stojić-Vukanić, Zorica
AU  - Petrušić, Marija
AU  - Pilipović, Ivan
AU  - Leposavić, Gordana
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6491
AB  - Introduction: Considering significance of mechanisms of central tolerance for development of autoimmune diseases, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), and suppressive influence of circulating proinflammatory cytokines and alterations in brainthymus communication, characteristic for the central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune diseases, on thymopoiesis, the study interogated putative strain-based thymus-related specificities relevant for the opposite effects of ageing on susceptibility of Dark Agouti (DA) and Albino Oxford (AO) rats to EAE. Methods: Quantitative and qualitative changes in thymopoiesis including underlying mechanisms were examined using flow cytometry and RT-qPCR quantification of mRNAs for molecules relevant for integrity of stroma and T-cell development, respectively. Results: With ageing, differently from DA rats, in AO rats the surface density of CD90, anegative regulator of selection threshold, on thymocytes undergoing lineage commitment was upregulated (consistent with TGF-β expression downregulation), whereas the generation of natural CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (nTregs) was impaired reflecting differences in thymic expression of cytokines supporting their development.Additionally, specifically in old AO rats, in whom EAE development depends on IL-17-producing CD8+ T cells, their thymic differentiation was augmented, reflecting augmented thymic IL-4 expression. In turn, differently from old DA rats developing
self-limiting EAE, in age-matched AO rats developing EAE of prolonged duration, EAE development led to impaired generation of nTregs and accumulation of proinflammatory, cytotoxic CD28–CD4+ T cells in the periphery. Discussion: The study indicates that strain differences in age-related changes in the efficacy of central tolerance, in addition to enhanced thymic generation of CD8+ T cells prone to differentiate into IL-17-producing cells, could partly explain the opposite effect of ageing on DA and AO rat susceptibility to EAE induction. Additionally, it suggested that EAE development leading to a less efficient thymic output of CD4+ cells and nTregs in old AO rats than their DA counterparts could contribute to prolonged EAE duration in AO compared with DA rats. Conclusion: The study warns to caution when designing therapeutic interventions to enhance thymic activity in genetically diverse populations, e.g., humans, and interpreting their outcomes. Furthermore, it indicates that CNS autoimmune pathology may additionally worsen thymic involution and age-related immune changes.
PB  - Basel: Krager AG
T2  - Neuroimmunomodulation
T1  - Ageing Affects Thymopoiesis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis development in a strain-dependent manner
VL  - 30
DO  - 10.1159/000535150
SP  - 346
EP  - 373
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Stojić-Vukanić, Zorica and Petrušić, Marija and Pilipović, Ivan and Leposavić, Gordana",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Introduction: Considering significance of mechanisms of central tolerance for development of autoimmune diseases, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), and suppressive influence of circulating proinflammatory cytokines and alterations in brainthymus communication, characteristic for the central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune diseases, on thymopoiesis, the study interogated putative strain-based thymus-related specificities relevant for the opposite effects of ageing on susceptibility of Dark Agouti (DA) and Albino Oxford (AO) rats to EAE. Methods: Quantitative and qualitative changes in thymopoiesis including underlying mechanisms were examined using flow cytometry and RT-qPCR quantification of mRNAs for molecules relevant for integrity of stroma and T-cell development, respectively. Results: With ageing, differently from DA rats, in AO rats the surface density of CD90, anegative regulator of selection threshold, on thymocytes undergoing lineage commitment was upregulated (consistent with TGF-β expression downregulation), whereas the generation of natural CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (nTregs) was impaired reflecting differences in thymic expression of cytokines supporting their development.Additionally, specifically in old AO rats, in whom EAE development depends on IL-17-producing CD8+ T cells, their thymic differentiation was augmented, reflecting augmented thymic IL-4 expression. In turn, differently from old DA rats developing
self-limiting EAE, in age-matched AO rats developing EAE of prolonged duration, EAE development led to impaired generation of nTregs and accumulation of proinflammatory, cytotoxic CD28–CD4+ T cells in the periphery. Discussion: The study indicates that strain differences in age-related changes in the efficacy of central tolerance, in addition to enhanced thymic generation of CD8+ T cells prone to differentiate into IL-17-producing cells, could partly explain the opposite effect of ageing on DA and AO rat susceptibility to EAE induction. Additionally, it suggested that EAE development leading to a less efficient thymic output of CD4+ cells and nTregs in old AO rats than their DA counterparts could contribute to prolonged EAE duration in AO compared with DA rats. Conclusion: The study warns to caution when designing therapeutic interventions to enhance thymic activity in genetically diverse populations, e.g., humans, and interpreting their outcomes. Furthermore, it indicates that CNS autoimmune pathology may additionally worsen thymic involution and age-related immune changes.",
publisher = "Basel: Krager AG",
journal = "Neuroimmunomodulation",
title = "Ageing Affects Thymopoiesis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis development in a strain-dependent manner",
volume = "30",
doi = "10.1159/000535150",
pages = "346-373"
}

Stojić-Vukanić, Z., Petrušić, M., Pilipović, I.,& Leposavić, G.. (2023). Ageing Affects Thymopoiesis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis development in a strain-dependent manner. in Neuroimmunomodulation
Basel: Krager AG., 30, 346-373.
https://doi.org/10.1159/000535150

Stojić-Vukanić Z, Petrušić M, Pilipović I, Leposavić G. Ageing Affects Thymopoiesis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis development in a strain-dependent manner. in Neuroimmunomodulation. 2023;30:346-373.
doi:10.1159/000535150 .

Stojić-Vukanić, Zorica, Petrušić, Marija, Pilipović, Ivan, Leposavić, Gordana, "Ageing Affects Thymopoiesis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis development in a strain-dependent manner" in Neuroimmunomodulation, 30 (2023):346-373,
https://doi.org/10.1159/000535150 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Stojić-Vukanić, Zorica
AU  - Pilipović, Ivan
AU  - Arsenović-Ranin, Nevena
AU  - Dimitrijević, Mirjana
AU  - Leposavić, Gordana
PY  - 2021
UR  - https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0165247821001309
UR  - https://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4479
AB  - The incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and susceptibility of animals to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the most commonly used experimental model of MS, decrease with aging. Generally, autoimmune diseases develop as the ultimate outcome of an imbalance between damaging immune responses against self and regulatory immune responses (keeping the former under control). Thus, in this review the age-related changes possibly underlying this balance were discussed. Specifically, considering the central role of T cells in MS/EAE, the impact of aging on overall functional capacity (reflecting both overall count and individual functional cell properties) of self-reactive conventional T cells (Tcons) and FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), as the most potent immunoregulatory/suppressive cells, was analyzed, as well. The analysis encompasses three distinct compartments: thymus (the primary lymphoid organ responsible for the elimination of self-reactive T cells – negative selection and the generation of Tregs, compensating for imperfections of the negative selection), peripheral blood/lymphoid tissues (“afferent” compartment), and brain/spinal cord tissues (“target” compartment). Given that the incidence of MS and susceptibility of animals to EAE are greater in women/females than in age-matched men/males, sex as independent variable was also considered. In conclusion, with aging, sex-specific alterations in the balance of self-reactive Tcons/Tregs are likely to occur not only in the thymus/”afferent” compartment, but also in the “target” compartment, reflecting multifaceted changes in both T-cell types. Their in depth understanding is important not only for envisaging effects of aging, but also for designing interventions to slow-down aging without any adverse effect on incidence of autoimmune diseases.
PB  - Elsevier B.V.
T2  - Immunology Letters
T1  - Sex-specific remodeling of T-cell compartment with aging: Implications for rat susceptibility to central nervous system autoimmune diseases
VL  - 239
DO  - 10.1016/j.imlet.2021.08.003
SP  - 42
EP  - 59
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Stojić-Vukanić, Zorica and Pilipović, Ivan and Arsenović-Ranin, Nevena and Dimitrijević, Mirjana and Leposavić, Gordana",
year = "2021",
abstract = "The incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and susceptibility of animals to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the most commonly used experimental model of MS, decrease with aging. Generally, autoimmune diseases develop as the ultimate outcome of an imbalance between damaging immune responses against self and regulatory immune responses (keeping the former under control). Thus, in this review the age-related changes possibly underlying this balance were discussed. Specifically, considering the central role of T cells in MS/EAE, the impact of aging on overall functional capacity (reflecting both overall count and individual functional cell properties) of self-reactive conventional T cells (Tcons) and FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), as the most potent immunoregulatory/suppressive cells, was analyzed, as well. The analysis encompasses three distinct compartments: thymus (the primary lymphoid organ responsible for the elimination of self-reactive T cells – negative selection and the generation of Tregs, compensating for imperfections of the negative selection), peripheral blood/lymphoid tissues (“afferent” compartment), and brain/spinal cord tissues (“target” compartment). Given that the incidence of MS and susceptibility of animals to EAE are greater in women/females than in age-matched men/males, sex as independent variable was also considered. In conclusion, with aging, sex-specific alterations in the balance of self-reactive Tcons/Tregs are likely to occur not only in the thymus/”afferent” compartment, but also in the “target” compartment, reflecting multifaceted changes in both T-cell types. Their in depth understanding is important not only for envisaging effects of aging, but also for designing interventions to slow-down aging without any adverse effect on incidence of autoimmune diseases.",
publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",
journal = "Immunology Letters",
title = "Sex-specific remodeling of T-cell compartment with aging: Implications for rat susceptibility to central nervous system autoimmune diseases",
volume = "239",
doi = "10.1016/j.imlet.2021.08.003",
pages = "42-59"
}

Stojić-Vukanić, Z., Pilipović, I., Arsenović-Ranin, N., Dimitrijević, M.,& Leposavić, G.. (2021). Sex-specific remodeling of T-cell compartment with aging: Implications for rat susceptibility to central nervous system autoimmune diseases. in Immunology Letters
Elsevier B.V.., 239, 42-59.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imlet.2021.08.003

Stojić-Vukanić Z, Pilipović I, Arsenović-Ranin N, Dimitrijević M, Leposavić G. Sex-specific remodeling of T-cell compartment with aging: Implications for rat susceptibility to central nervous system autoimmune diseases. in Immunology Letters. 2021;239:42-59.
doi:10.1016/j.imlet.2021.08.003 .

Stojić-Vukanić, Zorica, Pilipović, Ivan, Arsenović-Ranin, Nevena, Dimitrijević, Mirjana, Leposavić, Gordana, "Sex-specific remodeling of T-cell compartment with aging: Implications for rat susceptibility to central nervous system autoimmune diseases" in Immunology Letters, 239 (2021):42-59,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imlet.2021.08.003 . .