Study suggests routes to improved immunity in older people

In a paper , scientists explain how they uncovered the effects of a protein called Foxn1, which is a critical factor in the development of an effective immune system. The findings from these studies.. identify new potential strategies to preserve thymus function for longer, raising the prospect of a healthier old age. Professor Georg Hollander, Department of Paediatrics - Humans, like all higher animals, use T'cells as part of the immune system, to fight off infections and cancer. T'cells are generated in an organ called the thymus, where they closely interact with thymic epithelial cells (TEC) as they mature. People without TEC cannot generate T'cells, severely compromising the immune system and consequently increasing the risk for life threatening infections and cancer. More than 20 years ago the transcription factor Foxn1 was identified as an essential molecule for the normal development of TEC.