Damage to thymus in a child may lead to:

Damage to thymus in a child may lead to:
  1. a reduction in haemoglobin content of blood
  2. a reduction in stem cell production
  3. loss of antibody mediated immunity
  4. loss of cell mediated immunity.

Solution

Thymus is the primary lymphocyte, which is involved the production and maturation of T lymphocytes. T lymphocytes provide cell mediated immunity. B cells, which mature in the bone marrow, are responsible for antibody-mediated immunity. Related Theory Immature T lymphocytes are cells that have not yet encountered their specific antigen. In peripheral lymphoid organs, they can interact with antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which use MHC molecules to present antigen. Once the $T$ lymphocytes recognise their specific antigens, they proliferate and differentiate into one of several effector $T$ lymphocyte subsets. Effector T lymphocytes interact with host cells (rather than the pathogen) to carry out their immune function. T lymphocytes use co-receptors to bind to the MHC molecules. Co-receptors can be either CD4 or $C D_8$. CD proteins help to differentiate major groups of effector $T$ lymphocytes. immature $C_{8+} T$ lymphocytes will become cytotoxic $T$ lymphocytes. Alternatively, $C D_{{ }^{+}} T$ lymphocytes will become $T$ helper lymphocytes, each of which specialised for particular tasks.

Asked in: NEET 2005

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