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The Thymus Gland and Aging

1983; American College of Physicians; Volume: 98; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.7326/0003-4819-98-1-105_2

1539-3704

Marc E. Weksler,

Anesthesia and Neurotoxicity Research

Editorials1 January 1983The Thymus Gland and AgingMARC E. WEKSLER, M.D.MARC E. WEKSLER, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-98-1-105_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTwenty years ago R.A. Good (1) and J.F.A.P. Miller (2) discovered the immunologic function of the thymus gland. These investigators showed that the removal of the thymus early in life prevented the normal development of the immune system. The functions of the thymus are now recognized to include secretion of polypeptide hormones and the differentiation of precursor T lymphocytes that migrate to the gland from the bone marrow.Thirty years before the function of the thymus gland had been discovered, Edith Boyd (3) found that the human thymus undergoes a striking involution beginning at sexual maturity. By middle age the...References1. GOODDALMASSOMARTINEZARCHERPIERCEPAPERMASTER RACOJB. The role of the thymus in development of immunologic capacity in rabbits and mice. J Exp Med. 1962;116:773-98. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. MILLER J. The effect of neonatal thymectomy on the immunological responsiveness of the mouse. Proc Roy Soc. 1962;156:415-28. Google Scholar3. BOYD E. The weight of the thymus gland in health and in disease. Am J Dis Child. 1932;43:1162-214. Google Scholar4. SINGHSINGH JA. Age-related changes in human thymus. Clin Exp Immunol. 1979;37:507-11. MedlineGoogle Scholar5. MOODYINNESSTAINO-COICOINCEFYTHALERWEKSLER CJLGHM. Lymphocyte transformation induced by autologous cells: the effect of age on the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction. Immunology. 1981;44:431-8. MedlineGoogle Scholar6. LEWISTWOMEYBEALMEARGOLDSTEINGOOD VJPGR. Age, thymic involution and circulating thymic hormone activity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1978;47:145-50. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. MAKINODANKAY TM. 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Production of auto-anti-idiotypic antibody during the normal immune response: changes in the auto-anti-idiotypic antibody response and the idiotype repertoire associated with aging. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1980;77:6788-92. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar18. INKELESINNESKUNTZKADISHWEKSLER BJMAM. Immunological studies of aging: III. Cytokinetic basis for the impaired response of lymphocytes from aged humans to plant lectins. J Exp Med. 1977;145(s):1176-87. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. 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