The Human Thymus: Histophysiology and Pathology / Edition 1

by H.K. Mïller-Hermelink, M. Bofill, M. Chilosi, N. Dourov, B.v. Gaudecker

Overview

Twenty-five years have passed since J. MILLER'S basic work on the central role of the thymus for the generation of immunological reactivi­ ty. During this time, the abundance of fascinating literature on the immunological and functional aspects of this organ has been in contrast to the paucity of reports on its role in pathology. The causal or formal pathogenesis even of many of the well-documented pathological fea­ tures is so far unexplained or at least uncertain. In spite of some concep­ tual progress related to the work of CASTLEMAN, LEVINE, and ROSAI, we regrettably have to say that in pathology the thymus remains almost as inconspicuous as 25 years ago. Only the new techniques developed in recent years have made it possible to look as closely into the complicated structural organization of the thymus as it appears to be necessary to observe and document abnormalities. Major steps have been taken with the advent of mono­ clonal antibody immune hishemistry and with detailed ultrastructur­ al studies in embryology. At this point, pathologists and researchers with a special interest in the thymus were asked to give overviews of their respective fields of interest in light of recent findings in immunology and basic insights into the structural-functional interrelationship of the human thymus. The results of this initiative have been brought together in this volume.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783642824821
Publisher:	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publication date:	01/10/2012
Series:	Current Topics in Pathology , #75
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1986
Pages:	278
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 9.61(h) x 0.02(d)

Table of Contents

The Development of the Human Thymus Microenvironment.- Changes in the Human Thymus During Aging.- Cellular Differentiation of Lymphoid Subpopulations and Their Microenvironments in the Human Thymus.- Thymic Atrophy and Immune Deficiency in Malnutrition.- Pathology of the Thymus in Immunodeficiency States.- The Thymus in Myasthenia Gravis.- Pathology of Thymic Epithelial Tumors.