title: The role of the thymus in spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis.
abstract: In two models of genetically determined, spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis, neonatal thymectomy increases the incidience and severity of disease. The simpliest explanation is that the thymus, or thymus-derived cells, normally exert a suppressive effect on the autoimmune response to thyroglobulin in addition to the helper function that is necessary to initiate the autoimmune reaction.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000276:immunology; D002645:Chickens; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007668:Kidney; D008099:Liver; D009765:Obesity; D051381:Rats; D011915:Rats, Inbred BUF; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013934:Thymectomy; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D013954:Thyroglobulin