Abstract
Lymphoid cells are continually generated throughout life and are susceptible to changes in nutritional intake. The thymus gland seems to be very sensitive to nutritional stresses which has important consequences for immunoregulation, thymic hormone production, disease resistance, and health (Petro and Watson, 1982). The relationship between nutritional stresses, thymus functions, and immune defenses has recently been reviewed in detail elsewhere (Manderino and Watson, 1984) and is summarized briefly here. Clearly, thymus growth and T-lymphocyte functions can be enhanced or suppressed by high (Watson, 1984) or low (Manderino and Watson, 1983) intakes of various nutrients. For example, high vitamin A or retinoid intakes enhance thymus growth and cellular immune functions (Watson, 1984). The effects and/or role of thymic hormones on these immunological changes is unclear. Therefore, studies of thymosin fraction 5 (TF5) and its effects on resistance to leukemia growth in malnourished mice were undertaken and are detailed herein.
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Watson, R.R., Petro, T.M., Manderino, G.L. (1984). Role of Thymosin Fraction 5 in Host Defenses to Leukemia in Nutritionally Stressed Mice. In: Goldstein, A.L. (eds) Thymic Hormones and Lymphokines. GWUMC Department of Biochemistry Annual Spring Symposia. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4745-3_45
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4745-3_45
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