Intrathymic somatostatin network: studies on human thymic epithelial cells

The crosstalk between the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems is well established in the literature, partially mediated by common soluble ligands and receptors. This crosstalk is observed in the thymus as cytokines, hormones, and neurotransmitters can modulate the thymic microenvironment and function. Somatostatin (STT), cortistatin (homolog to somatostatin) and several somatostatin receptors are detected in thymic epithelial cells and developing thymocytes. Although somatostatin has been described as a proliferation inhibitor of human thymic cells, the impact of this neuropeptide on critical roles, such as cellular interactions in the thymus, remains to be determined.