Thymic B cells in aging and autoimmune disease
Thymic B cells comprise a heterogenous population of cells localized primarily within the thymic medulla, a region populated by professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) including dendritic cells, medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), and macrophages. Through expression and presentation of s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1595805/full |
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| author | Sarah A. Wedemeyer Ann V. Griffith |
| author_facet | Sarah A. Wedemeyer Ann V. Griffith |
| author_sort | Sarah A. Wedemeyer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Thymic B cells comprise a heterogenous population of cells localized primarily within the thymic medulla, a region populated by professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) including dendritic cells, medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), and macrophages. Through expression and presentation of self-antigens, these APCs are responsible for shaping the normal T cell repertoire by negatively selecting thymocytes recognizing self-antigens. It is now clear that thymic B cells have the capacity to participate in negative selection and present cognate antigens distinct from other medullary APCs, thus serving a non-redundant role in mediating T cell central tolerance. Recent work has linked thymic B cells with the development of multiple autoimmune diseases, many of which are increased in prevalence with aging. Here, we will provide a brief overview of the role of thymic B cell subsets in promoting negative selection and immune homeostasis, with a primary focus on the impact of aging on their tolerizing capacity and involvement in autoimmune diseases, highlighting thymic B cells as a potential novel therapeutic target to improve clinical outcomes in patients with autoimmune diseases. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7ed9450209d04d5394393eb9bbd5869c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj-art-7ed9450209d04d5394393eb9bbd5869c2025-08-20T02:10:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-06-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15958051595805Thymic B cells in aging and autoimmune diseaseSarah A. WedemeyerAnn V. GriffithThymic B cells comprise a heterogenous population of cells localized primarily within the thymic medulla, a region populated by professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) including dendritic cells, medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), and macrophages. Through expression and presentation of self-antigens, these APCs are responsible for shaping the normal T cell repertoire by negatively selecting thymocytes recognizing self-antigens. It is now clear that thymic B cells have the capacity to participate in negative selection and present cognate antigens distinct from other medullary APCs, thus serving a non-redundant role in mediating T cell central tolerance. Recent work has linked thymic B cells with the development of multiple autoimmune diseases, many of which are increased in prevalence with aging. Here, we will provide a brief overview of the role of thymic B cell subsets in promoting negative selection and immune homeostasis, with a primary focus on the impact of aging on their tolerizing capacity and involvement in autoimmune diseases, highlighting thymic B cells as a potential novel therapeutic target to improve clinical outcomes in patients with autoimmune diseases.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1595805/fullthymusagingB cellsautoimmune diseasetolerance |
| spellingShingle | Sarah A. Wedemeyer Ann V. Griffith Thymic B cells in aging and autoimmune disease Frontiers in Immunology thymus aging B cells autoimmune disease tolerance |
| title | Thymic B cells in aging and autoimmune disease |
| title_full | Thymic B cells in aging and autoimmune disease |
| title_fullStr | Thymic B cells in aging and autoimmune disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thymic B cells in aging and autoimmune disease |
| title_short | Thymic B cells in aging and autoimmune disease |
| title_sort | thymic b cells in aging and autoimmune disease |
| topic | thymus aging B cells autoimmune disease tolerance |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1595805/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarahawedemeyer thymicbcellsinagingandautoimmunedisease AT annvgriffith thymicbcellsinagingandautoimmunedisease |