Question

Write a short note on the functions of the hormone Thymosin.

Answer 1

Hint: The name thymosin itself indicates which organ secretes it. It is secreted by the primary lymphoid organ of the immune system. This organ is also useful for the production of mature T-cells. It is secreted by the thymus.

Complete solution:
-The Thymosin hormone is secreted by the Thymus gland. This thymosin hormone helps in or plays an important role in the differentiation of T-lymphocytes. T lymphocytes or cells derived their name from the organ in which they get mature. They are very important for the immune system of the body. Thymosin is a type of hormone secreted from the thymus. Its primary function is to stimulate the production of T cells, which are a very important part of the immune system. Thymosin also assists in the development of B cells to plasma cells to provide antibodies. The predominant type of thymosin, thymosin b4, is found to be a member of a highly conserved family of actin monomer-sequestering proteins.

Additional Information:
The thymus is found within the upper front, a part of the chest, within the anterior superior mediastinum, behind the sternum, and ahead of the heart. It's made of two lobes, each consisting of a central medulla and an outer cortex, surrounded by a capsule.
-The Thymus gland is also called the ‘Throne of immunity’ or ‘training schools of T-lymphocytes.’
-In children, it was observed that the thymus is pinkish-gray in color and is soft, and lobulated on its surfaces.
-The T-lymphocytes of the immune system are differentiated at the thymus. The T-lymphocytes improve the cell-mediated immunity with the help of thymosin.
-At birth it's about 4–6 cm long, 2.5–5 cm wide, and about 1 cm thick. It increases in size until puberty, where it's going to have a size of about 40–50 g, following which it decreases in size during a process referred to as involution.

Note:
Abnormalities of the thymus may result in an exceedingly decreased number of T cells and autoimmune diseases like Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 and myasthenia. These are often related to cancer of the tissue of the thymus, called thymoma, or tissues arising from immature lymphocytes like T cells, called lymphoma.