The thymus develops from an endocrine area of the foregut, and retains the ancient potencies of this region. However, later it is populated by bone marrow originated lymphatic elements and forms a combined organ, which is a central part of the immune system as well as an influential element of the endocrine orchestra. Thymus produces self-hormones (thymulin, thymosin, thymopentin, and thymus humoral factor), which are participating in the regulation of immune cell transformation and selection, and also synthesizes hormones similar to that of the other endocrine glands such as melatonin, neuropeptides, and insulin, which are transported by the immune cells to the sites of requests (packed transport). Thymic (epithelial and immune) cells also have receptors for hormones which regulate them. This combined organ, which is continuously changing from birth to senescence seems to be a pacemaker of life. This function is basically regulated by the selection of self-responsive thymocytes as their complete destruction helps the development (up to puberty) and their gradual release in case of weakened control (after puberty) causes the erosion of cells and intercellular material, named aging. This means that during aging, self-destructive and non-protective immune activities are manifested under the guidance of the involuting thymus, causing the continuous irritation of cells and organs. Possibly the pineal body is the main regulator of the pacemaker, the neonatal removal of which results in atrophy of thymus and wasting disease and its later corrosion causes the insufficiency of thymus. The co-involution of pineal and thymus could determine the aging and the time of death without external intervention; however, external factors can negatively influence both of them.

中文翻译：

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免疫内分泌胸腺是生命的起搏器。

胸腺从前肠的内分泌区域发展而来，并保留了该地区的古老功效。然而，后来它被骨髓起源的淋巴成分所占据，并形成了一个组合器官，它是免疫系统的中心部分，也是内分泌乐团的重要组成部分。胸腺产生自身激素（胸腺素，胸腺素，胸腺戊肽和胸腺体液因子），它们参与免疫细胞转化和选择的调节，并且还合成与其他内分泌腺类似的激素，例如褪黑激素，神经肽和胰岛素，由免疫细胞运输到请求部位（分装运输）。胸腺细胞（上皮细胞和免疫细胞）也具有调节它们的激素受体。这个器官，从出生到衰老不断变化，似乎是生命的起搏器。该功能基本上由选择自我应答的胸腺细胞来调节，因为它们的完全破坏有助于发育（直至青春期），并且在控制力减弱的情况下（青春期后）逐渐释放，会导致细胞和细胞间物质的侵蚀，称为衰老。这意味着，在衰老过程中，在破坏的胸腺的引导下会表现出自毁性和非保护性免疫活性，从而引起细胞和器官的持续刺激。松果体可能是起搏器的主要调节器，新生儿的摘除会导致胸腺萎缩并浪费疾病，其后的腐蚀会导致胸腺功能不全。松果体和胸腺的共同进化可以决定衰老和死亡时间，而无需外部干预。但是，外部因素会对两者产生负面影响。