AAAS: "Doctors have long considered the thymus expendable. But could removing it be fatal?" There are 2 main categories of lymphocytes, both key players in the immune system. B-lymphocytes—named after an anatomically similar organ called the Bursa of Fabricus in chickens—which when activated convert to plasma cells, each one pouring out one specific type of antibody. T-lymphocytes—named after the thymus—have multple subtypes + are involved in surveillance + attack against foreign invaders like bacteria + viruses, but also our own cells that turn cancerous. But they are also capable of attacking our own healthy tissue, which is called autoimmune disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease. Okay, so the thymus is very active in children, but begins to shrink + mostly stops producing cells in adulthood. sort of the attitude of 'been there, done that, let's go grab a beer.' Or does it? Turns out what used to be taught in med schools is probably wrong. "Harvard University hematologist David Scadden and his colleagues analyzed medical records from nearly 2300 people who had undergone chest surgeries at Massachusetts General Hospital." Half had undergone thymectomy, usually performed to treat thymus cancer or certain autoimmune diseases such as myasthenia gravis, in which T-cells attack muscles + cause episodic weakness. But the team found that "compared with the other chest surgery patients, those who underwent a thymectomy were almost three times more likely to die from a variety of causes, from infectious disease to cancer, during the next 5 years." Also had a doubled risk of various cancers, often more aggressive ones compared to people who retained their thymuses. Examination of  the bloodstream showed lesser lymphocyte variety + more infalmmatory molecules. So pat yourself not on your back but rather on top of your upper sternum, because the thymus lies directly below it. Besides, that's easier to do, especially if your shoulders are stiff.   #immunesystem    #thymus    #lymphocytes

A biotechnology company designing immunotherapies for solid tumor cancers with a patient's white blood cells is raising $80 million in its initial public offering or IPO.

https://sciencebusiness.technewslit.com/?p=45015

#News #Press #Science #Business #Biotechnology #Cancer #SolidTumor #Finance #Immunotherapy TCells #ClinicalTrial #Lymphocytes #Investment #IPO #ImmuneSystem #Licensing #VentureCapital

#xkcd: #Lymphocytes

https://xkcd.com/2749/

"T cell-specific Ahr knockout leads to recovery driven by a decrease in T cell fitness...Our study demonstrates a newly emerging role for aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in mediating the interdependence between T lymphocytes and the microbiota, while simultaneously identifying new potential molecular targets for the treatment of MS and other autoimmune diseases."
https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002000#:~:text=Our%20study%20demonstrates%20a%20newly%20emerging%20role%20for%20AHR%20in%20mediating%20the%20interdependence%20between%20T%20lymphocytes%20and%20the%20microbiota%2C%20while%20simultaneously%20identifying%20new%20potential%20molecular%20targets%20for%20the%20treatment%20of%20MS%20and%20other%20autoimmune%20diseases.

#multiplesclerosis #lymphocytes #autoimmune

A research group at the University of Basel has identified a #gene that drives T #lymphocytes (#Tcell) to exhaustion. This finding opens up new approaches for more effective #immunotherapies.
#Biology #Medical #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2023/02/bio02022301.html

https://nitter.pussthecat.org/tactnowinfo/status/1611185494326497282?s=46
#virus #fungi #bacteria #tcells #lymphocytes #bcells #cancer #hiv #xbb15
Tbh I’m not sure I’d be able to convince 90% of the population that is already checked out & in complete denial..

I just post for those people who are still trying & wondering if they should just give up🖤

#dontGiveUp #DontInhaleTheVirus #viralDose #HEPA #keepMasking #CovidPapers #LongCovid

Linchpin of human immune system, T-lymphocytes actually come in a number of subpopulations. CD-4 cells are 'helper-inducer T-cells' that support the production of antibodies by B-lymphocytes. CD-8 cells are cytotoxic T-cells that directly kill microorganisms or cancer cells. Memory T cells are long-lived lymphocytes that can respond to foreign antigens encountered before, even over the entire lifetime of an individual. All of these cells are absolutely required to counter infections such as coronaviruses, measles + hundreds of other infectious diseases in particular. This photo is a colorized scanning electron micrograph of a T-lymphocyte. Not golden in real life but absolute gold in terms of our survival as a species. Good time of the year to give thanks. #lymphocytes #immunity

"In clinical studies, lymphocyte count has been described to recover to 80% of baseline value by 3 months; however, less is known about the duration of lymphopenia in real-life clinical practice."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7641093/

#Immunology
#RepairingCovidDamage
#Covid19
#lymphopenia
#lymphocytes
#epidemiology
#virology

Weary. Verge of tears.

#IMMUNITY | A TAXONOMICAL RETHINK 🤔 | Reclassifying #Plasmacytoid #Dendritic #Cells as# #Innate #Lymphocytes | 🗣

"With respect to their ontogeny, emerging data support a lymphoid origin of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), which seem to share a developmental trajectory with B cells. By contrast, conventional dendritic cells (DCs) have a myeloid origin in the common dendritic cell progenitor.
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#theconversation #Santé "Doit-on inquiéter du fait que les anticorps contre la Covid disparaissent avec le temps ? Pas vraiment" #Covid19 #anticorps #immunité #lymphocytes #vaccin #SystèmeImmunitaire ... https://theconversation.com/doit-on-inquieter-du-fait-que-les-anticorps-contre-la-covid-disparaissent-avec-le-temps-pas-vraiment-149051

#theconversation #Santé "Doit-on inquiéter du fait que les anticorps contre la Covid disparaissent avec le temps ? Pas vraiment" #Covid19 #anticorps #immunité #lymphocytes #vaccin #SystèmeImmunitaire ... https://theconversation.com/doit-on-inquieter-du-fait-que-les-anticorps-contre-la-covid-disparaissent-avec-le-temps-pas-vraiment-149051