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The blood–thymus barrier regulates exchange of substances between the circulatory system and thymus, providing a sequestered environment for immature T cells to develop. The barrier also prevents the immature T cells from contacting foreign antigens (since contact with antigens at this stage will cause the T cells to die by apoptosis).
The barrier is formed by the continuous blood capillaries in the thymic cortex, reinforced by epithelial reticular cells and macrophages.
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| T cells |
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| Innate lymphoid cells |
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| Lymphopoiesis | |||||
| Lymphoid |
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| Lymphocytes | |||||||||
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