Abstract
The immunological function of the thymus was first documented 50 years ago by using neonatally thymectomized mice, while studying its role in virus-induced leukaemia. Since then, an enormous wealth of reports has helped to define the importance of this primary lymphoid organ. In this article, I summarize the key advances that have led to our current knowledge of the functions of the thymus and its T cells in immunity.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Biomedical Research / trends
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Cell Differentiation / immunology
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Cell Movement / immunology
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Leukemia / immunology
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Leukemia / virology
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Mice
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Models, Immunological
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
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Thymectomy
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Thymus Gland / cytology
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Thymus Gland / immunology*
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Thymus Gland / surgery
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Time Factors
Substances
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell