Accumulation of tissue macrophages and depletion of resident macrophages in the diabetic thymus in response to hyperglycemia-induced thymocyte apoptosis

Thymus involutes rapidly and persistently after the onset of hyperglycemia because of the elevated apoptosis in the thymocytes. Tissue macrophages accumulate in the thymus and the resident macrophages decrease. This results in an overall increase in macrophage activity in the diabetic thymus in response to the elevated apoptosis of thymocytes produced by hyperglycemia.