23 Jun 2025
A model developed by LMU biophysicists demonstrates how biological processes form the convoluted internal architecture of the thymus – allowing for better suppression of autoimmune responses.
The thymus is one of the most important organs of the immune system, where T cells learn to distinguish the body’s own tissue from foreign tissue – a decisive step in preventing autoimmune diseases. The complex internal shape of the thymus is remarkable, with a highly convoluted structure in the region of the medulla. Scientists have been unsure how this complicated structure arises and whether its genesis is related to the function of the organ.