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Role of gonadal hormones in programming developmental changes in thymopoietic efficiency and sexual diergism in thymopoiesis

  • Immunology in Serbia
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Abstract

There is a growing body of evidence indicating the important role of the neonatal steroid milieu in programming sexually diergic changes in thymopoietic efficiency, which in rodents occur around puberty and lead to a substantial phenotypic and functional remodeling of the peripheral T-cell compartment. This in turn leads to an alteration in the susceptibility to infection and various immunologically mediated pathologies. Our laboratory has explored interdependence in the programming and development of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis and thymus using experimental model of neonatal androgenization. We have outlined critical points in the complex process of T-cell development depending on neonatal androgen imprinting and the peripheral outcome of these changes and have pointed to underlying mechanisms. Our research has particularly contributed to an understanding of the putative role of changes in catecholamine-mediated communications in the thymopoietic alterations in adult neonatally androgenized rats.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants 145049 and 175050 from Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Serbia. The authors thank Dusko Kosec, PhD, Katarina Radojevic, PhD, Nevena Arsenovic-Ranin and Zorica Stojic-Vukanic for many exciting findings and discussions that have helped to shape this review. The authors also thank Ms Helen Gilmour for proofreading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 450 Vojvode Stepe, 11221, Belgrade, Serbia

    Gordana Leposavic

  2. Immunology Research Centre “Branislav Jankovic”, Institute of Immunology and Virology ‘Torlak’, 458 Vojvode Stepe, 11221, Belgrade, Serbia

    Milica Perisic & Ivan Pilipovic

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  1. Gordana Leposavic
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  2. Milica Perisic
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  3. Ivan Pilipovic
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Correspondence to Gordana Leposavic.

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Leposavic, G., Perisic, M. & Pilipovic, I. Role of gonadal hormones in programming developmental changes in thymopoietic efficiency and sexual diergism in thymopoiesis. Immunol Res 52, 7–19 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-012-8278-6

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