Hormones of Thymus Gland
Thymosin, thymopoietin, and serum thymic factor are the three hormones that are produced by the thymus gland. The T cells are not all affected by thymic hormones in the same way. The hormones’ mode of action at the cellular level is based on their interaction with adenylyl cyclase and binding to the appropriate cell receptors.
Thymosin
- The main hormone secreted by the gland is thymosin, which is generated by the epithelial cells of the cortex and medulla.
- Thymosin’s ability to trigger T cell differentiation and improve various immune cells’ immunological capabilities is its most significant function.
- The phenotypic markers in lymphocytes have also been linked to an increase in thymosin levels.
- Thymosin is a protein that can withstand heat up to 80°C and may also contain a small quantity of sugar.
Thymopoietin
- A polypeptide hormone produced by the thymus called thymopoietin serves more neuromuscular purposes than immunological ones.
- Increased hormone levels are known to also cause T cell activation and differentiation, though.
What is Thymus Gland?
A gland in an animal is a collection of cells that produce compounds, such as hormones, for release into the bloodstream (endocrine gland), into cavities inside the body, or onto the animal’s surface (exocrine gland). Each gland is created by the ingrowth of epithelial tissue. This ingrowth may initially have a tubular form, but glands can also begin as a solid column of cells that later develops into a tubular structure.
The column of cells may divide or release offshoots as growth progress, in which case a compound gland is created. Many glands have a finite number of branches, whereas others (such as the pancreas and salivary glands) repeatedly expand and divide to eventually form a very massive structure. Normally, the branches don’t join together, but the liver is one exception since a reticulated compound gland develops there. The terminal portion of each branch in compound glands is made up of the more common or secretory epithelium, and the connecting segments, which ducts, are lined with a less altered type of epithelial cell.