Understanding the Promise of Stem Cell Therapy for Diseases Involving the Dysregulation of the Immune System
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- Published: Monday, 31 December 2018 07:00
Dysregulation of the Immune System
The human body is a marvelous thing. It contains nerves, muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, organs, all of which go into making up "us". However, the body must have a way of protecting itself from invaders – viruses and bacteria, primarily, but also other potentially dangerous pathogens. This job falls to the body’s immune system.
In a healthy immune system, the body fights back against invaders and aggressors. White blood cells (T and B cells) are manufactured in response to viral invasion. The body’s temperature rises (fever) in an effort to make the environment inhospitable to infectious vectors. The immune system can take many other steps in order to safeguard the body from harm. However, there are times when this system breaks down, and rather than protecting the body, the immune system begins to attack itself.
These instances are called autoimmune diseases, or diseases involving the dysregulation of the immune system.
Read more: Understanding the Promise of Stem Cell Therapy...
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