Lipids produced within the thymus give immune cells the initial boost they need to fight off infection

Semi-invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells wage war against infectious threats, attacking microbial cells and generating signals that enable other immune cells also to respond aggressively. iNKT cells initially undergo activation in the thymus; after being 'switched on' via interaction with certain antigens, they undergo an initial population expansion and then migrate to peripheral immune sites where they proliferate further so they can mount an effective defense.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-lipids-thymus-immune-cells-boost.html#jCp

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