{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,1]],"date-time":"2026-11-01T11:58:19Z","timestamp":1793534299714,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":101,"publisher":"American Society for Clinical Investigation","issue":"15","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,8]],"date-time":"2025-08-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1754611200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":38,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000274","name":"British Heart Foundation","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["FS\/19\/62\/34901"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FS\/19\/62\/34901"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000274","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100015652","name":"Barts Charity","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["MGU0413"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["MGU0413"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100015652","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>BACKGROUND<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Thymic involution with age leads to reduced T cell output and impaired adaptive immunity. However, the extent to which thymic activity persists later in life and how this contributes to immunological aging remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the presence and function of thymic tissue in older adults and identify factors influencing residual thymopoiesis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>METHODS<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Patients aged 50 or older undergoing cardiothoracic surgery were recruited. Thymic structures within mediastinal adipose tissue were evaluated using histology, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing, and RNA sequencing. Recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) were quantified in peripheral blood and correlated with transcriptomic, epigenetic, and TCR repertoire data. Primary outcomes included thymic tissue identification, RTE frequency, and immune correlates.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>RESULTS<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Functional thymic tissue was identified in mediastinal adipose tissue of older individuals. The frequency of CD31\n                      <jats:sup>+<\/jats:sup>\n                      CD4\n                      <jats:sup>+<\/jats:sup>\n                      T cells (RTEs) positively correlated with the presence of thymic tissue. Thymic output showed substantial heterogeneity and was influenced by sex and smoking history. Thymic activity was associated with increased TCR repertoire diversity, improved immune protection against infections, and reduced epigenetic aging. Detailed profiling uncovered functional and phenotypic heterogeneity within naive CD4\n                      <jats:sup>+<\/jats:sup>\n                      T cell subsets shaped by thymic activity.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>CONCLUSION<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study demonstrates that thymic function can persist into later life and is modulated by factors such as sex and smoking. These findings suggest that thymic activity during aging is heterogeneous and influenced by more than chronological age alone, with potential implications for immune competence in older adults.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1172\/jci.insight.189008","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,1]],"date-time":"2025-07-01T12:00:33Z","timestamp":1751371233000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Heterogeneity of thymic output in the elderly and its association with sex and smoking"],"prefix":"10.1172","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7569-0163","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Balraj","family":"Sandhar","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7756-1509","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Vishal","family":"Vyas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom."},{"name":"Department of Cardiology, Barts Heart Centre, St. Bartholomew\u2019s Hospital, London, United Kingdom."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniel","family":"Harding","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom."},{"name":"Department of Cardiology, Barts Heart Centre, St. Bartholomew\u2019s Hospital, London, United Kingdom."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Roberta","family":"Ragazzini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Epithelial Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom."},{"name":"Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, Division of Infection & Immunity, UCL, Pears Building, Rosslyn Hill, London, United Kingdom."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paola","family":"Bonfanti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Epithelial Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom."},{"name":"Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, Division of Infection & Immunity, UCL, Pears Building, Rosslyn Hill, London, United Kingdom."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Federica M.","family":"Marelli-Berg","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christopher G.","family":"Bell","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7417-3970","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Benny M.","family":"Chain","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1854-4594","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"M. Paula","family":"Longhi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"232","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1182\/blood-2010-06-286393"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/341649a0"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/01926230600865549"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2020.00897"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1440-1711.2003.01191.x"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.190.4.479"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/25374"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.174.11.7446"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/MD.0000000000029950"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa2302892"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.0400640101"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clim.2007.12.002"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-017-01728-5"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/eji.200939444"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1182\/blood-2012-05-431718"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.immuni.2008.07.017"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1172\/JCI39269"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2018.01618"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1667\/RR4554.1"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2174\/1570162033485258"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7150\/ijms.27238"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5551\/jat.31575"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1182\/blood-2009-03-213595"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.175.4.2741"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.20131289"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41577-021-00646-4"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ejcts\/ezr268"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.165.7.3706"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1182\/blood-2008-02-139154"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.070061597"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.0900743"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/acel.12675"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1006\/cimm.1997.1148"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10522-011-9349-0"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1172\/JCI84997"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2021.774780"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.1201235"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/acel.13671"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.1203267"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1172\/jci.insight.145495"},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbrc.2014.12.122"},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.devcel.2021.03.026"},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.coi.2012.04.001"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.0903442"},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2017.00715"},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/ncomms10369"},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1172\/jci.insight.93739"},{"key":"B48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41590-022-01369-x"},{"key":"B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pbio.1001674"},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1172\/JCI148546"},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.immuni.2013.09.015"},{"key":"B52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/nri3028"},{"key":"B53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.2300140"},{"key":"B54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1101\/gr.115428.110"},{"key":"B55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1182\/blood-2009-04-217604"},{"key":"B56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.18632\/aging.101684"},{"key":"B57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/gerona\/glaa286"},{"key":"B58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13073-020-00752-3"},{"key":"B59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-020-18618-y"},{"key":"B60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.xcrm.2020.100054"},{"key":"B61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13148-015-0148-3"},{"key":"B62","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0166486"},{"key":"B63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13148-015-0113-1"},{"key":"B64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMp2006761"},{"key":"B65","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/79724"},{"key":"B66","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2249.2001.01640.x"},{"key":"B67","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-020-14396-9"},{"key":"B68","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1210\/endo.142.3.8032"},{"key":"B69","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1096\/fj.10.168724"},{"key":"B70","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1210\/me.2012-1244"},{"key":"B71","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/scitranslmed.abd3631"},{"key":"B72","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13072-019-0311-8"},{"key":"B73","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0099711"},{"key":"B74","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mrrev.2021.108365"},{"key":"B75","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12890-017-0509-0"},{"key":"B76","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2020.01858"},{"key":"B77","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/ni.3079"},{"key":"B78","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/sciadv.aao1617"},{"key":"B79","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/archinternmed.2007.40"},{"key":"B80","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-022-24722-4"},{"key":"B81","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.immuni.2005.09.010"},{"key":"B82","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cellimm.2020.104049"},{"key":"B83","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2024.1365894"},{"key":"B84","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eclinm.2021.101030"},{"key":"B85","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0056797"},{"key":"B86","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.1003870"},{"key":"B87","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s43587-023-00379-0"},{"key":"B88","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.20071140"},{"key":"B89","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00330-015-3796-y"},{"key":"B90","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/sciadv.abq7599"},{"key":"B91","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s43587-022-00198-9"},{"key":"B92","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3791\/52184"},{"key":"B93","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11357-011-9341-2"},{"key":"B94","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/15592294.2022.2123898"},{"key":"B95","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/bioinformatics\/bty476"},{"key":"B96","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2105-13-86"},{"key":"B97","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/bioinformatics\/btu049"},{"key":"B98","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/gb-2013-14-10-r115"},{"key":"B99","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thrush KL, et al. R methylCIPHER: A Methylation Clock Investigational Package for Hypothesis-Driven Evaluation &amp; Research [preprint]. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1101\/2022.07.13.499978 Posted on bioRxiv July 16, 2022","DOI":"10.1101\/2022.07.13.499978"},{"key":"B100","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2017.01267"},{"key":"B101","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/bioinformatics\/btaa758"}],"container-title":["JCI Insight"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/insight.jci.org\/articles\/view\/189008\/files\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,17]],"date-time":"2026-05-17T15:12:22Z","timestamp":1779030742000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/insight.jci.org\/articles\/view\/189008"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,1]]},"references-count":101,"journal-issue":{"issue":"15","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,8]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,8]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1172\/jci.insight.189008"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1172\/jci.insight.189008","relation":{},"ISSN":["2379-3708"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2379-3708","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,1]]},"article-number":"e189008"}}