Scientists Identify Hormone That May Reverse Chronic Inflammation
Researchers at USC's Keck School of Medicine have identified a hormone produced by the thymus gland that could hold a key to slowing biological aging and enhancing cancer treatments.
A study published in Nature Communications by scientists at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California suggests a potential method for reversing chronic, age-related inflammation. The research pinpoints the thymus gland, an often-overlooked organ involved in immune system development, as a crucial player.
The thymus, located behind the breastbone, produces a hormone called thymulin. This hormone plays a role in regulating inflammation. The study observed that thymulin levels decrease with age, coinciding with an increase in chronic inflammation, a condition linked to numerous age-related diseases including cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions.
Experiments conducted on mice demonstrated that increasing thymulin levels improved cancer survival rates and enhanced the effectiveness of immunotherapy. This finding could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies aimed at combating age-related diseases and potentially improving patient outcomes in cancer treatment.
"This is the first evidence of a substance that is naturally produced in the thymus, declines with age, and has the power to reverse age-related inflammation," stated Fumito Ito, the study's lead author. The research expands on previous suggestions of the thymus's role in inflammation, providing a specific biological mechanism and a potential target for future medical interventions.