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Autoimmune diseases: we discovered how to turn white blood cells from attacking the body to protecting it

For most of us, the immune system works to protect us from bacteria, viruses, and other harmful pathogens. But for people with autoimmune conditions, the body’s white blood cells instead perceive other cells and tissues in the body to be a threat and attacks them. While some immune disorders, like allergies, can sometimes be treated, autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) remain incurable.

Our research has shown that you can stop the immune system attacking the nerves – which is what happens in MS. We did this by giving the immune system ever-increasing doses of the same molecule that the immune system was attacking.

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Articles of Interest

Dangers of High & Low White Blood Cells + Underlying Factors

Having a high level of white blood cells is bad, but for some people having too low of a level means that they won’t be able to effectively fight infections.

Determining Disease Through White Blood Cells

A normal white cell count is between 4,000 to 11,000 cells per microliter of blood. Counts that are higher or lower than expected could indicate an underlying health condition. A higher count is referred to as leukocytosis, while low counts are called leukopenia.

Disorders of White Blood Cells

The number of circulating WBCs normally ranges from 4400 to 11,000/µL in adults.4 The differential WBC count is an estimation of the percentage of each cell type per microliter of blood. A normal differential count consists of neutrophils, 50% to 60%; eosinophils, 1% to 3%; basophils, less than 1%; lymphocytes, 20% to 34%; and monocytes, 3% to 7%. The term leukocytosis is defined as an increase in the number of circulating WBCs (lymphocytes or granulocytes) to more than 11,000/µL, and leukopenia as a reduction in the number of circulating WBCs (usually to less than 4400/µL).

Disorders of White Blood Cells and Lymphoid Tissues

The haemopoitic system produce all blood cells include their precursors and their derivatives.

Investigation of White Blood Cell Disorders

White blood cells are cells that are made in the bone marrow, and exist in the marrow, the blood stream, in lymph nodes and scattered thoughout our all our tissues. They are a family of cells which make up our immune system. Some white cells function as detectors or sensors of foreign cells or particles (such as bacterial, viral or fungal infection, or vaccines), and some cells function as ‘killer’ cells to remove foreign cells or particles. Another group of cells act to regulate this whole system so that the body only reacts against foreign cells or particles, and not agains its own cells.

Leukocyte Disorders

The leukogram usually does not confirm infection, but some patterns, such as a very severe left shift together with very toxic neutrophils, strongly suggest severe infection. Infection is more consistently confirmed by finding the organism and associated inflammatory reaction with cytology and culture of tissues that look abnormal on ultrasound, radiographs, or physical exam.

Leukocyte-Related Disorders: A Review for the Pediatrician

Neutropenia is of special importance in pediatrics due to associations of severe neutropenia with genetic syndromes and overlapping presentations with primary immunodeficiencies.

New Study May Explain Why Stress Can Cause Heart Attacks

Scientists may have identified the connection between chronic stress and heart attacks, according to a new study: white blood cells. “[They] are important to fight infection and healing, but if you have too many of them, or they are in the wrong place, they can be harmful,” said Matthias Nahrendorf of the Harvard Medical School, who was a co-author of the study, Agence France-Presse reports.

Sorting Through White Blood Cells in a Sample to Diagnose Disease

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine developed a cell-sorting device, which they call an integrated microfluidics-waveguide sensor, that can sift through and measure the number of different types of white cells in a sample of blood. Originally developed to detect severe combined immunodeficiency, or "bubble boy disease," the researchers quickly realized that the technology can be used to help identify other, more common conditions. The technology behind the sensor is described in the latest issue of Biomicrofluidics.

White Blood Cell Disorders (Pediatric)

Two major types of white blood cell disorders are proliferative disorders and leukopenias.

White Blood Cells: Disease and Disorders

Any disorders in the white blood cells can affect the immune system response and affect the body’s ability to fight against infection. Following are the major type of blood disorders...

Resources

Oncohema Key

White blood cells (WBCs) are cells of the immune system that defend the body against infectious disease and foreign material. The total WBC and the differential counts are valuable guides in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of various childhood illnesses.