Immunotoxic organotins as possible model compounds in studying apoptosis and thymocyte differentiation.

In the mid-seventies it appeared that some organotin compounds selectively caused thymus atrophy. From that time onward efforts were made to reveal molecular and cellular mechanisms involved. In this review recent studies into organotin-sensitive stages and processes of thymocyte maturation are discussed. Together these studies resulted in the recognition of organotin compounds as possible model compounds in studying immature thymocyte differentiation and protein synthesis-independent apoptotic cell death of thymocytes.