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Reconstitution of Cellular Immune Function in a Child with Thymic Aplasia by Foetal Thymus Grafting
Author(s) -
Jose D. G.,
Barnes G.,
Rossiter E. J. R.,
Myers N. A.,
Fitzgeraldtt M. G.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1974.tb03187.x
Subject(s) - medicine , immune system , immunology , fetus , population , aplasia , spleen , antigen , pregnancy , biology , genetics , environmental health
Summary: A two‐year‐old, male non‐identical twin with megacolon, hypochondroplasia of bone and absence of a thymus‐dependent lymphoid population is described. No parathyroid dysfunction was detected and humoral immune function was intact, although only an IgM response was elicited by a thymus dependent antigen. Repeated grafting of unmatched thymus tissue from a human foetus of 12–16 weeks gestation has resulted in significant immunological re‐constitution and clinical improvement.