The loss of thymic function with age may be due to diminished numbers of T-cell progenitors and the loss of critical mediators within the thymic microenvironment. To assess the molecular changes associated with this loss, we examined transcriptomes of progressively aging mouse thymi, of different sexes and on caloric-restricted (CR) vs. ad libitum (AL) diets. Genes involved in various biological and molecular processes including transcriptional regulators, stress response, inflammation and immune function significantly changed during thymic aging. These differences depended on variables such as sex and diet. Interestingly, many changes associated with thymic aging are either muted or almost completely reversed in mice on caloric-restricted diets. These studies provide valuable insight into the molecular mechanisms associated with thymic aging and emphasize the need to account for biological variables such as sex and diet when elucidating the genomic correlates that influence the molecular pathways responsible for thymic involution.

中文翻译：

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小鼠胸腺中与年龄，性别和饮食相关的变化的转录组分析。

胸腺功能随年龄的丧失可能是由于T细胞祖细胞数量减少以及胸腺微环境中关键介体的丧失。为了评估与这种损失有关的分子变化，我们检查了渐进衰老的小鼠胸腺的转录组，这些胸腺的性别不同，并且热量限制（CR）和随意饮食（AL）的饮食比较。在胸腺衰老过程中，涉及各种生物和分子过程的基因（包括转录调节因子，应激反应，炎症和免疫功能）发生了显着变化。这些差异取决于性别和饮食等变量。有趣的是，在限制热量的饮食中，与胸腺衰老有关的许多变化被忽略或几乎完全被逆转。