If the thymus is removed from a 2-year-old child, you might...

If the thymus is removed from a 2-year-old child, you might expect which of the following to occur? a) increased success of an organ transplant and increased incidence of bacterial infection. b) increased success of an organ transplant and decreased incidence of bacterial infection. c) decreased success of an organ transplant and increased incidence of viral infection. d) decreased incidence of cancer and decreased incidence of viral infection. e) decreased success of an organ transplant and increased incidence of cancer.

If the thymus is removed from a 2-year-old child, you might expect which of the following to occur?
a) increased success of an organ transplant and increased incidence of bacterial infection.
b) increased success of an organ transplant and decreased incidence of bacterial infection.
c) decreased success of an organ transplant and increased incidence of viral infection.
d) decreased incidence of cancer and decreased incidence of viral infection.
e) decreased success of an organ transplant and increased incidence of cancer.

Key Concepts

Immune Surveillance Against Cancer

Mature T cells are instrumental in identifying and destroying potentially cancerous cells as part of the body’s immune surveillance mechanism. A thymectomy early in life can impair this surveillance, theoretically increasing the risk of cancer later, as the immune system’s capacity to detect and eliminate malignant cells is diminished.

Transplant Rejection and Immune Tolerance

T cells are a major mediator of transplant rejection through their recognition of non-self antigens presented by a transplanted organ. A deficiency in mature T cells due to removal of the thymus may reduce the likelihood of graft rejection. This diminished T cell response can result in increased acceptance or 'success' of an organ transplant due to lower immune reactivity against the graft.

Cell?Mediated Immunity

T cells play a key role in cell?mediated immunity by identifying and destroying virus-infected cells, tumor cells, and foreign antigens. Removing the thymus impairs the production and maturation of T lymphocytes, leading to a compromised ability to generate these critical immune responses, which makes the body more vulnerable to certain infections, particularly viral infections.

Thymus and T Cell Maturation

The thymus is a central lymphoid organ where immature T lymphocytes (thymocytes) mature and undergo selection to become functional T cells. This process is critical for establishing an effective adaptive immune response, as mature T cells are essential for cell?mediated immunity, including defense against viruses, tumor surveillance, and regulation of immune tolerance.

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