Impact of undernutrition on apoptotic pathways and thymocyte development
in rats: Insights into caspase activation and mitochondrial dysfunction
Abstract
Undernutrition significantly compromises immune function, particularly
in vulnerable populations. This study explores the impact of
undernutrition on apoptotic pathways and thymocyte development in rats,
shedding light on potential mechanisms underlying immune suppression.
This study investigates the effects of undernutrition on apoptotic
pathways and thymocyte development in rat models. Undernutrition was
induced by competitive suckling, leading to weight deficits of 40% or
more. Thymocytes were analyzed using flow cytometry to assess
mitochondrial function, caspase activation, and subpopulation
alterations among thymocytes, providing insights into the mechanisms
underlying immune suppression due to undernutrition. The undernourished
rats showed reduced thymus weight, modifications in thymocyte
subpopulations, and diminished mitochondrial potential. The analysis of
caspase activation unveiled a significant role of caspase 9 in early
apoptosis, suggesting a link between mitochondrial dysfunction and the
apoptosis of thymocytes induced by undernutrition. These alterations in
thymic structure and apoptotic pathways align with previous studies,
emphasizing the vulnerability of the thymus to undernutrition. The
alterations observed in thymocyte subpopulations and caspase activation
patterns provide insights into the intricate relationship between
undernutrition, thymic function, and immune suppression. This study
contributes to understanding how undernutrition during lactation affects
thymic function and apoptotic pathways. These findings highlight the
critical necessity for additional research to unravel the underlying
mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic interventions to alleviate
the detrimental impact of undernutrition on thymic development and
immune function.