Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1975 Feb 28;249:116-24. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1975.tb29062.x.
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.
在两种基因决定的自发性自身免疫性甲状腺炎模型中,新生期胸腺切除会增加疾病的发病率和严重程度。最简单的解释是,胸腺或源自胸腺的细胞,除了对启动自身免疫反应所必需的辅助功能外,通常还对针对甲状腺球蛋白的自身免疫反应发挥抑制作用。