| Thymus tissue
heals DiGeorge syndrome
Transplants of
thymus tissue into babies born without this essential gland have given
these children a functioning immune system.
References:
Markert, M.L., et
al. 1999. Transplantation of thymus tissue in complete DiGeorge
syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine 341(Oct. 14):1180.
Further Readings:
DiGeorge, A.M.
1968. Congenital absence of the thymus and its immunologic consequences:
Concurrence with congenital hypoparathyroidism. In: Bergsma, D., ed.
Birth defects original article series. Vol. 4. White Plains, NY:
National Foundation March of Dimes:116.
Markert, M.L., et
al. 1997. Successful formation of a chimeric human thymus allograft
following transplantation of cultured postnatal human thymus. Journal
of Immunology 158:998.
Weissman, I.L.,
and J.A. Shizuru. 1999. Immune reconstitution. New England Journal of
Medicine 341(Oct. 14):1227.
Sources:
M. Louise
Markert
Duke University Medical Center
P.O. Box 3068
Durham, NC 27710
From Science
News, Vol. 156, No. 21, November 20, 1999, p. 328. Copyright ©
1999, Science Service. |