Hasty pudding

Hassall's Corpuscles (also known as Thymic Corpuscles or Hassall-Henle bodies) are distinctive structures found within the thymus, an organ that plays a crucial role in the immune system. Named after Arthur Hill Hassall, who first described them in 1846, Hassall's Corpuscles are primarily involved in the maturation of T cells and the regulation of T cell apoptosis.

Structure

Hassall's Corpuscles are composed of concentric layers of flattened epithelial cells in the medulla of the thymus. These structures are unique to the thymus and vary in size, ranging from 20 to more than 100 micrometers in diameter. The central region of the corpuscle often appears degenerated or keratinized, and may contain remnants of nuclei and cytoplasm.

Function

The primary function of Hassall's Corpuscles is to support the maturation of T cells, a type of white blood cell that is essential for immune response. They achieve this by presenting self-antigens to developing T cells, thereby promoting self-tolerance and preventing autoimmunity.

In addition to their role in T cell maturation, Hassall's Corpuscles also produce a protein called thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), which helps to regulate inflammation and immune responses.

Clinical Significance

Changes in the number and structure of Hassall's Corpuscles have been associated with various diseases, including myasthenia gravis, DiGeorge syndrome, and certain types of cancer. As such, they can serve as a histological marker for thymic health and function.

See Also

• Thymus
• T cell
• Immune system
• Autoimmunity