Thymosin is a 5-Da polypeptide hormone secreted by the thymus gland. Thymosin α1 stimulates the development of precursor T cells in the thymus to mature T cells.

Thymosin

Three major thymus hormones, thymosin, thymopoietin, and thymulin, are thought to reside in the cytoplasm of the thymus epithelial cell.

The thymus is responsible for producing the hormone thymosin, which in turn aids in the production of T cells. While in the thymus, T cells multiply, acquire different antigen receptors, and differentiate into helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells. Various proteins (e.g., CD4, CD8) are expressed on the T cell surface.

B lymphocytes play a critical role in pathogen-specific immunity by producing antibodies. B lymphocytes recognize soluble antigens via immunoglobulins anchored on their surface and differentiate into antibody-producing cells, called plasma cells, capable of secreting immunoglobulins.

Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell. The main function is that they serve as part of the immune system. Their various functions allow them to properly respond to foreign invaders in the body and eliminate them. They produce specific antibodies.

The peptide:MHC class II complex can be recognized by antigen-specific armed helper T cells, stimulating them to make proteins that, in turn, cause the B cell to proliferate and its progeny to differentiate into antibody-secreting cells.

T cells are involved in cell-mediated immunity, whereas B cells are primarily responsible for humoral immunity (relating to antibodies). The function of T cells and B cells is to recognize specific “non-self” antigens, during a process known as antigen presentation.

B cell: A type of white blood cell and, specifically, a type of lymphocyte. Many B cells mature into what are called plasma cells that produce antibodies (proteins) necessary to fight off infections while other B cells mature into memory B cells.

B cells produce and secrete antibodies, activating the immune system to destroy the pathogens. The main difference between T cells and B cells is that T cells can only recognize viral antigens outside the infected cells whereas B cells can recognize the surface antigens of bacteria and viruses.

To summarize – an antigen is a disease agent (virus, toxin, bacterium parasite, fungus, chemical, etc) that the body needs to remove, and an antibody is a protein that binds to the antigen to allow our immune system to identify and deal with it.

While both B cells and T cells are involved in triggering the immune response, the main difference between the two is that T cells can only recognize viral antigens on the outside of infected cells and B cells can only identify the surface antigens of the infectious agents themselves.

T cells are a part of the immune system that focuses on specific foreign particles. Rather than generically attack any antigens, T cells circulate until they encounter their specific antigen. As such, T cells play a critical part in immunity to foreign substances.

Helper T cells are arguably the most important cells in adaptive immunity, as they are required for almost all adaptive immune responses. They not only help activate B cells to secrete antibodies and macrophages to destroy ingested microbes, but they also help activate cytotoxic T cells to kill infected target cells.

Generation of T Cells Lymphoid progenitors which have developed from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow migrate to the thymus to complete their antigen-independent maturation into functional T cells . In the thymus, T cells develop their specific T cell markers, including TCR, CD3, CD4 or CD8, and CD2.

Healthy ways to strengthen your immune system

1. Don’t smoke.
2. Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables.
3. Exercise regularly.
4. Maintain a healthy weight.
5. If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
6. Get adequate sleep.
7. Take steps to avoid infection, such as washing your hands frequently and cooking meats thoroughly.

NK cell activity can increase by consumption of nutritious foods the Five Food Groups, supplemented with blueberries, Maitake mushroom, Reishi mushroom, garlic, or supplementary food such as Cordyceps, MGN-3 (Biobran), Resveratrol, Reishi extract, AHCC, Quercetin, and probiotics.