The hematopoietic system is being studied by scientists around the world. The health of the whole organism depends on its full functioning. What can be the problems of the hematopoietic structure, will be discussed in this article.
Research results
Scientists have determined how the body reacts during emergencies when it needs to produce more blood cells. The study reports that if tissue damage occurs during excessive bleeding or during pregnancy, a secondary emergency system is activated in the spleen.
Hematopoietic stem structures live mainly in the bone marrow, and most new cells form here under normal circumstances. But when hematopathic stress occurs, the hematopoietic system works so that its area of influence expands to the spleen. Hematopoietic stem cells migrate there from the bone marrow. In this hematopathic organ, the formation of new structures occurs.
What happens in the spleen
Typically, very few hematopoietic stem cells form in the spleen. But those who create a supportive environment for them are ready to respond during hematopathic stress, and receive an influx of hematopoietic stem structures from the bone marrow.
Characterizing a microenvironment or niche supporting blood formation in the spleen, the CRI research team, for example, used mouse models to study the expression of two known stem cell factors.
Bone marrow resemblance
The researchers found that the hematopoietic system in the spleen is located near sinusoidal blood vessels and created by endothelial and perivascular cells, as well as the microenvironment in the bone marrow.
Under extreme conditions, endothelial and perivascular cells that are in the spleen are induced to proliferate. Therefore, they can support all new hematopoietic stem structures that migrate to the spleen. These data were provided by researchers at the American Institute.
It was determined that this process in the spleen is physiologically important for responding to hematopoietic stress. Without this, the tissues would not be able to maintain normal cell counts during pregnancy or to quickly restore their volume after bleeding or chemotherapy.
Based on this new information on the role of emergency reserve functioning of the spleen for the formation of blood cells in the hematopoietic system, effective methods of treatment of many incurable diseases can be developed in the future. It will also help improve the formation of new blood cells, accelerating the restoration of their previous number after chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation.
Although a cure for HIV infection may not appear soon, the research data allows us to approach the solution of the problem by one more step.
EXPERIENCE AND RESEARCH
Scientists conducting research in the field of regenerative medicine and stem cells took an artificial molecule and introduced it into the hematopoietic stem formation to dramatically suppress HIV in mice.
The molecule, called the chimeric antigen receptor, was introduced into the hematopoietic stem cells, which can be converted into structures of any type, including T cells. The latter occur after viruses and bacteria enter the body. HIV, however, was able to rapidly mutate and evade T cells.
By studying the chimeric antigenic receptor, scientists could develop much more “smart” T cells that would better find and kill HIV. But even in these mice, called "humanized," because they were equipped with human-like immune systems, only 80 to 95 percent of the virus disappeared. Thanks to such studies, it became possible to more effectively treat diseases of the hematopoietic system.
Scientists hope that such an approach would one day allow HIV-positive people to reduce or successfully complete the treatment regimen and completely clear the body of the virus.
Previous studies of the human hematopoietic system have shown how artificial molecules or receptors can produce similar results. However, HIV can evade these molecules, making them less effective over time. Therefore, the disease is still incurable.
Further testing, the researchers hope, can be carried out on the human body for five to ten years. A potentially effective cure for HIV infection will appear no earlier than in 10 years. Despite problems in finding drugs, scientists remain optimistic about the treatment of diseases of the hematopoietic system.
What is leukemia?
This is a type of cancer that causes abnormal white blood cell growth. The birth, growth and death of any type of cell is a natural process. When this process is disrupted for some reason, it gives rise to new undeveloped cells, which in the case of leukemia are called blasts or leukemia. This disease affects the organs of the blood and the immune system.
This chaotic anomaly in the natural process leads to the fact that normal blood cells die after a while and are replaced by new ones - blasts that are produced in the bone marrow. Blasts, in turn, do not die so easily and accumulate, occupying more and more space. The pathological process occurs in white blood cells. This destruction of the natural process in the bone marrow is called leukemia.
Causes of Leukemia
Until now, researchers have not been able to pinpoint the cause of this type of cancer. However, they believe that this is due to radiation and mutations in the DNA. Cancer researchers say that different types of leukemia have different causes:
- Irradiation. High energy radiation can cause significant changes in DNA. These changes can trigger the development of leukemia. Large doses of radiation increase the risk of oncology in animals and humans. The International Agency for Research on Cancer reported that there is limited evidence that high levels of non-magnetic fields with an extremely low frequency can cause some cases of childhood leukemia;
- Genetic predisposition. Some people are prone to developing leukemia for genetic reasons. A mutation in the gene can cause leukemia in children. People with Down syndrome have a significantly increased risk of developing forms of acute leukemia.
Other suspicious reasons
The hematopoietic system is also prone to some other lesions. The reason for this may be:
- Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1) causes adult T-cell leukemia;
- Using tobacco can lead to a slight increase in the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia;
- Benzene and some petroleum products cause illness;
- Dyes for hair;
- Children born to mothers who use drugs.
Signs and Symptoms
The human blood and blood system suffers from leukemia. In this case, it is observed:
- Lack of platelets;
- Weak immune system
- Frequent infections, such as infected tonsils, mouth ulcers, diarrhea, pneumonia;
- Anemia;
- Feeling of pain, fever, chills, night sweats;
- An increase in the liver, which can lead to weight loss.
The most common symptoms in children are light bruising, pale skin, fever, and an enlarged spleen or liver.
Treatment
Different types of leukemia have different treatment methods. However, pharmaceuticals, usually combined in a multi-drug regimen, are the most common methods of alleviating leukemia.
To summarize
The hematopoietic system in children and adults, discussed in this article, is under the scrutiny of scientists. They identified how the body reacts when an emergency occurs. In this case, he needs more blood cells. In the course of the study, it was possible to determine that tissue damage due to excessive bleeding or pregnancy causes activation of the secondary emergency blood production system in the spleen.
Typically, the spleen produces a very small number of hematopoietic stem cells. But the cells that create a supportive environment for them tend to respond during hematopoietic stress, receiving an influx of hematopoietic stem cells from the bone marrow.
The processes occurring in the spleen are physiologically important in order to respond to the phenomenon of hematopoietic stress. Without this, tissues will not be able to maintain indicators of the normal number of blood cells, for example, during pregnancy or to quickly restore their number after bleeding or chemotherapy has occurred.
The most terrible and incurable diseases that occur in the hematopoietic system are HIV and leukemia. To date, there is no means to eliminate these deadly ailments. Thanks to the research of scientists around the world, it’s possible to bring the day when the secret of the drug that defeats HIV and leukemia is revealed. However, it is important to consider the reasons that contribute to the development of leukemia.
It is recommended not to be exposed to large doses of radiation, as they can cause malfunctions in the blood system of a person. The health of the blood system is affected by a person’s lifestyle and hereditary predisposition.
Causes of the disease can also be genetic malfunctions. Then leukemia can develop in both adults and children. Further study of the hematopoietic system will allow finding, presumably over the next ten years, a pharmacological agent that, as part of complex therapy, will help to defeat incurable diseases today.