RESEARCH - Therapy stimulates recovery of the thymus gland

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Therapy Stimulates Recovery Of The Thymus Gland

MedicalNewsToday.com

Article Date: 22 Feb 2008 - 4:00 PDT

Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology

(GIVI) and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have

found that therapy can be used to stimulate the production of vital

immune cells, called " T- cells, " in adults with HIV infection.

HIV disease destroys T-cells, leading to collapse of the immune system

and severe infection. The thymus gland, which produces T-cells,

gradually loses function over time (a process called " involution " ) and

becomes mostly inactive during adulthood. Because the thymus gland

does not function well in adults, it is difficult for HIV-infected

adults to make new T-cells. Thus, therapies that stimulate the thymus

to produce new T-cells could help HIV-infected patients to rebuild

their embattled immune systems.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/98274.php

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