1
Return

Thymus and Leishmania at the Crossroads: Autoimmunity and Cancer

delete2026-05-15
delete0
delete
OA
AI
A
Alef Batista Bezerra Barros
G
Gabriel Augusto Leite
A
Arthur Gomes de Andrade
M
Maria Danielma dos Santos Reis
L
Luiz Henrique Agra Cavalcante‐Silva
M
Marvin Paulo Lins *
DOI:10.1111/imm.70150delete
deleteOriginal
deleteShare
deleteSave
View PDF
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Leishmania infections profoundly reshape host immunity, yet their impact on central T-cell development remains underappreciated. The thymus, a key site for establishing a functional and self-tolerant T-cell repertoire, is highly sensitive to systemic inflammatory cues. Growing evidence indicates that parasitic diseases, including leishmaniasis, can perturb thymic structure and function through direct parasite presence or sustained inflammatory stress. Such disturbances may alter thymocyte maturation, leading to reduced T-cell output and the release of cells with aberrant specificity. Beyond compromising protective immunity, these changes may create conditions favourable to immune dysregulation, including the emergence of autoimmune manifestations and a microenvironment permissive to malignant transformation. This narrative review synthesises current findings on how Leishmania interacts with immunological tissues and highlights the thymus as a potential and overlooked target whose dysfunction may bridge infection, autoimmunity and cancer.
Keywords:
autoimmunity
cancer susceptibility
immune tolerance
Leishmania infection
thymic dysfunction
AI Summary

AI Summary

Key information extracted from the uploaded paper, including a brief overview, abstract, background, key highlights, visual analysis, and future outlook.

Journal

Immunology cover
Immunology
IF:
5
Papers:
251
Citations:
1.3W

Organization

U
University of Cuiaba
Scholars:
20
Papers: 8
Citations: 0
F
Federal University of Paraiba
Scholars:
327
Papers: 106
Citations: 2
F
federal university of alagoas
Scholars:
226
Papers: 88
Citations: 0
O
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation
Scholars:
254
Papers: 80
Citations: 0
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers