Multiple Sclerosis Research Paper

Immune disorders: multiple sclerosis

In healthy people, the immune system protects the body from foreign invaders. In most cases this saves lives, but for many unlucky people, the immune system turns id more destructive than it is helpful. The immune system is a complex system of blood cells and organs that must work together properly to keep the body healthy.In disorders such as multiple sclerosis, the immune system turns against itself, destroying healthy body systems.

When any part of this system fails, To understand autoimmune disorders, it is essential to understand how the immune system works. According to Livescience, the immune system’s role is defined as a collections of structures and processes within the body that protect against

disease or other potentially damaging foreign bodies. The lymph nodes are the secreting glands that contain clear lymph fluid that carry immune system cells to their target sites within the body. White blood cells, or lymphocytes are responsible for defending the body against disease. (Livescience.com).These white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and stored in the spleen.
Lymphocytes are further divided into B cells and T cells.

Each B cell is programmed to eliminate a virus or bacteria. Once a B cell has been activated by its antigen, it triggers a cascade of plasma cells that produce an antibody. NiAID.gov defines the types of antibodies produced as, “Immunoglobin G, or IgG, is a kind of antibody that works efficiently to coat microbes, speeding their uptake by other cells in the immune system. igM is effective at killing bacteria. IgA concentrates in body fluids- tears, saliva, and the secretions of the respiratory and digestive tracts- guarding the body. Ig E, whose natural job is to protect against parasitic infections and IgD attaches itself to B cells and plays a key role in initiating early B cell responses.” (niad.gov) In general, B cells are responsible for fighting off allergens and viral

infections.
While B cells operate primarily on free floating agents, T cells work directly on cancerous or infected cells.

T cells grow and mature in the thymus. They are further divided into killer T cells, which are responsible for killing cells that are infected with viruses or otherwise damaged cells, and helper T cells which help the body decide how to react to a certain pathogen. (livestrong.com) many viruses attach to healthy cells and inject their toxins into the cell. This ultimately alters the DNA in the cell, and every time the cell undergoes mitosis, it will create another infected cell. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes are specially structured cells that recognize fragments of viruses and eliminate them. Both Cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer T cells contain granules filled with potent chemicals. Cytotoxic t lymphocytes are look for self-MHC molecules, which are a signal of infection or defect, but natural killer cells do not. This means that natural killer cells have the potential to kill a variety of cells. (naiad.gov). T cell receptors are protein molecules that are designed to recognize self-MHC molecules, essentially telling the T cells where to go and what to attack.

(NAID.gov)
The final components of the lymphocytes are cytokines and phagocytes. Phagocytes work like scavengers in the blood. They travel around in the body and secrete chemicals that enable them to digest dead cells and other debris. Cytokines are designed to switch immune cell types on and off. They help in providing a strong immune system. (Naid.gov).
Diseases of the immune system make up a broad spectrum of disorders. Even very common immune system aliments such as seasonal allergies can escalate into systemic anaphylactic shock. These can be caused by many different things, such as being born with a compromised immune system, getting a disease that weakens your immune system, or having an an immune system that is over active. In diseases such as Gullian- Barre syndrome and multiple sclerosis, the immune system turns against the body, causing what is called an autoimmune disease.
Multiple sclerosis is a progressive autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system. It is, “Characterized by the destruction of the myelin sheath surrounding the nerve fibers of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. As a result, the transmission of nerve impulses becomes impaired, particularly in pathways involving vision, sensation and movement.” ( encyclopedia britanica) At this time there is no definitive cure for multiple sclerosis. It is considered to be an autoimmune disorder but much of the pathology involved in multiple sclerosis is not fully understood.