What is the thymus and what does it do?
The thymus is the major gland of the human immune system. The thymus is responsible for many immune functions including the production of T lymphocytes (T-cell), a type of white blood cell responsible for cell-mediated immunity. As we age, T-cells produced by the thymus become depleted and cannot be replenished. The drop in T-cell diversity that occurs with age is one reason why the elderly are more susceptible to disease. The entire spectrum of autoimmune disease falls into the pattern of immune dysfunction. SLE (Lupus), rheumatic arthritis, some diabetes, some thyroid disease, glomerulonephritis, Sjogren’s disease, ITP, allergies, many of the cardiomyopathies, are all forms of autoimmune problems.
