Journal: Cell reports

Article Title: Aging disrupts sympathetic innervation of the thymus

doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2026.117126

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Representative confocal z stack projection from highlighting the direct interaction of autofluorescent phagocytic-like cells in direct contact with along axons in an aged thymus. (B) Insert from (A) showing a group of phagocytic cells in direct contact with a dim β3-tubulin + axon bundle in the thymic parenchyma (white arrowheads). (C) Insert from (A) showing many phagocytic cells in direct contact with nerve bundles along a large CD31 + /CD144 + vein (white arrowheads). (D) Identification of large autofluorescent cells as macrophages by Iba1 labeling in a young thymus. (E) Image from an aged thymus demonstrating large hypertrophic Iba1 + macrophages. (F) Quantification of mRNA (2 ddCT ) for genes associated with cellular ROS production, inflammatory cytokines, and phagocytosis from sorted young adult and aged macrophages. Data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean and analyzed with unpaired t test ( Nfe2l2 , Sod1 , Il1b , and Trem2 ), unpaired Welch’s t test ( Cybb , Cyba , Gpx1 , Prdx1 , Tnfa , Lamp1 , and Lamp2 ), or Mann-Whitney U test ( Apoe ); n = 10–12/group from 3 independent experiments. Scale bars: 50 μm in (A) and 35μm in (D) and (E).

Article Snippet: qPCR Primer – Trem2 FW: CTACCAGTGTCAGAGTCTCCGA Rev: CCTCGAAACTCGATGACTCCTC , Origene , SKU: MP217538.

Techniques: Labeling, MANN-WHITNEY