Thanks to @agencerecherche.bsky.social (ANRRANKLThym), Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation and Fondation ARC for supporting our project !

We provide the proof-of-concept that RANKL stimulates human endothelial and epithelial cells using thymic organo-cultures, providing an exciting new therapeutic approach in the arsenal of regenerative medicine to rejuvenate the immune system.

This increased production leads to peripheral T-cell renewal and improves T-cell-mediated anti-tumor and vaccine responses in aged mice.

RANKL treatment in aged mice restores thymic architecture as well as cellularity and functional properties of endothelial and epithelial cells. This boosted T-cell production in the aged thymus.

The RANK-RANKL axis in the thymus is altered during aging. In addition to thymic epithelial cells, endothelial cells depend on RANK signaling for their cellularity and functional maturation.