The role of the thymus in the integrated evolution of the recombinase-dependent adaptive immune response and the neuroendocrine system.

Before being able to react against infectious non-self-antigens, the immune system has to be educated in recognition and tolerance of neuroendocrine self-proteins. This sophisticated educational process takes place only in the thymus. The development of an autoimmune response directed to neuroendocrine glands has been shown to result from a thymus dysfunction in programming immunological self-tolerance to neuroendocrine-related antigens.