T-Cell Loss and Mortality: A Critical Examination

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the implications of T-Cell loss in humans, specifically exploring the potential for immediate mortality due to rapid loss of T-Cells, the percentage of loss that could lead to death, and the anatomical distribution of T-Cells in the body. It touches on theoretical scenarios rather than established medical facts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether a percentage of immediate T-Cell loss could lead to rapid death in a typical adult, seeking to understand the threshold for such an event.
  • Another participant argues that the loss of T-Cells would not cause immediate death, suggesting that death would result from infections or cancer over time rather than from the absence of T-Cells themselves.
  • A participant inquires about the size of T-Cells, indicating interest in their physical characteristics.
  • There is a brief exchange regarding the anatomical origin of T-Cells, with one participant noting that they are primarily produced in the thymus and circulate throughout the body.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the immediacy of death related to T-Cell loss, with one asserting that immediate death is unlikely while another seeks to explore the conditions under which it might occur. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific percentage of T-Cell loss that could lead to rapid mortality.

Contextual Notes

The discussion lacks consensus on the critical thresholds for T-Cell loss and the time frame for potential mortality, as well as the specific size of T-Cells, which remains unaddressed.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in immunology, medical science, or the physiological roles of T-Cells may find this discussion relevant.

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Can a percentage of total and immediate (hypothetical sub 1 second) T-Cell loss cause death to a typical adult?

What percentage of hypothetical immediate loss would yield rapid death under 1 minute?

What would the most likely cause of death be?

What size is a typical T-Cell in µM^3 ?

Is there an area or organ in the human body which holds the vast majority of T-Cells?

Greatly appreciated.
 
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Here is wikipedia on T-cells.
T-cells function in the immune system which fights infections and cancers (to some degree) in the body.
They don't keep you body alive directly, they fight off attacks upon the body (from disease organisms or cancer).

Their loss would not cause an immediate death (even if they were all gone instantly), because you would have to die of an infection or cancer. That would take a while.

They are (mostly?) made in the thymus (the T in T-cell), but them distribute themselves throughout the body as they patrol around looking for things that should not be there (disease organisms and cancer cells).
 
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Great, what about their size?
 
No.
 
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