Thymic atrophy induced by murine mammary adenocarcinoma in vivo

Y. Fu, N. Altman, D. M. Lopez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The thymic compartment of mammary tumor bearing mice is severely affected with increasing tumor growth. T cell functions in peripheral organs are greatly impaired or absent in such animals. A study of the thymus in relation to tumorigenesis revealed a profound decrease in size accompanied by a disrupture of the normal thymic architecture. Although a strong splenic suppressor cell activity can be detected in this animal model, splenectomy did not prevent thymic involution. Injection of tumor associated factors into normal mice resulted in a thymic atrophy similar to that seen in tumor bearing mice. These findings indicate that the observed thymic involution may not be only due to stress-related phenomena but also a direct effect of the tumor.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-6
Number of pages6
JournalIn Vivo
Volume3
Issue number1
StatePublished - 1989

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

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