Transgenic mice overexpressing the human Cu/Zn-SOD gene: ultrastructural studies of a premature thymic involution model of Down's syndrome (trisomy 21).

It has been suggested that the overexpression of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) in Down's syndrome (DS) patients may be involved in expression of some of the phenotypic characteristics observed in these patients. To explore the possible role of SOD-1 overexpression in the premature thymic involution and immunologic disorders observed in DS patients, transgenic mice overexpressing the human SOD-1 gene have been generated and their thymuses have been studied at the ultrastructural level. Our observations show premature involution of the thymus in SOD-1 transgenic mice, with a strong modification of the thymic microenvironment starting at approximately 3-4 months of age. The thymic microenvironment in 7-month-old transgenic mice is similar to that observed in 20-month-old control mice. We suggest that these results are consistent with the role of SOD-1 overexpression in the early thymic involution observed in DS patients. These transgenic mice provide an interesting model to investigate the deleterious effect of increased dosage of some chromosome 21 genes such as SOD-1 in the pathogenesis of DS.