thymus

Previous studies in rodents that cut their calories by nearly half resulted in better function of their thymus and immune T cells, as well as a drop in the molecules that promote inflammation.

Without cutting calories, the rodents had less aging-associated inflammation and a more efficient thymus—an organ that makes immune cells—and metabolism compared to similarly-aged peers.

Al’s early work demonstrated that the thymus plays a major role, and later studies in his lab found that the T cells’ ability to recognize the body’s own cells is acquired rather than genetically predetermined.

The pig’s thymus gland, which can help educate the immune system to recognize the kidney as part of the body, was also transplanted with the organ to improve its chances of acceptance, Montgomery said.

The thymus gland attains a considerable development in the embryo and shrinks away to the merest vestige in the adult.

Owen says that the thymus appears in vertebrates with the establishment of the lung as the main or exclusive respiratory organ.

The enlargement or persistence of the thymus can be better recognised, and doctors now seldom fail to notice it.

It is nearly always accompanied by a distinct hypertrophy of the thymus gland.

The thymus gland, which lies near the heart and is often called the heart sweetbread, is the best one.