According to Healthline medical online magazine Lymphocytes are one of several types of white blood cells. Each type of white blood cell has a specific function, and they all work together to fight illness and disease.
White Blood Cells
These white blood cells are an important part of the immune system. They help your body fight antigens which are bacteria, viruses, and other toxins that make you sick. If your doctor says you have a weakened immune system, that means there aren’t enough white blood cells in your bloodstream.
Lymphocytes and how they work
Cells are produced constantly by the bone marrow and these cells l become lymphocytes.
Some of these lymphocytes will enter your bloodstream, but most will move through your lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system is the group of tissues and organs, that protect your body from infection These organs include the spleen, tonsils, and lymph nodes.
About a 1/4 of the new lymphocytes remain in the bone marrow and become B cells. The other ¾ of these new lymphocytes travel to your thymus and become T cells
Most lymphocytes are short-lived, with an average life span of lymphocytes is a week to a few months, but a few live for years, providing a pool of long-lived T and B cells.
These cells account for immunologic “memory,” these memory cells that have been in your body long enough to recognize and “remember” past infections and go into action quickly if you become re-infected with antigen
lymphocytes are able to bind antigens (foreign substances or microorganisms that the host recognizes as “non-self”) and help remove them from the body. This is done through receptor molecules on their surfaces,
Each lymphocyte bears receptors that bind to a specific antigen. The ability to respond to virtually any antigen comes from the enormous variety of lymphocyte populations that the body contains, each of them with a receptor capable of recognizing a unique antigen.
Lymphocytes move around your body through the lymphatic system, which is part of the circulatory system. Lymph vessels carry clear fluid, including lymphocytes and other white blood cells, throughout your body to fight infection.
What Are T Cell Lymphocytes?
T cell lymphocytes’ continually scan and monitor your cells for infection and the risk of infection.
These T cell lymphocytes also kill cancer cells, and there is a promising approach to cancer treatment (known as CAR-T therapy) that involves isolating, multiplying, and then using a patient’s own T cells to fight particular cancer.
In addition, there is evidence that T cell lymphocytes also can protect you from bacteria by actually capturing and killing the bacteria in question.
What Are B Cell Lymphocytes?
B cell lymphocytes don’t attack and kill cells, viruses, or bacteria themselves.
They manufacture proteins called antibodies that actually stick to the surface of invaders, disabling those invaders and spotlighting them for clean up by other parts of your immune system.
Each B cell only produces one specific antibody, But because the body’s huge number of B-cells collectively recognize an almost unlimited number of intruders and produce a tremendous variety of antibodies to fight them.
Like T cell lymphocytes, B cell lymphocytes also are made in your bone marrow. They mature in your spleen.
Lymphocytes do not always behave normally.
In autoimmune disease, for example, T cell lymphocytes mistakenly attack your own tissues, mistaking your cells for foreign invaders. an example Celiac disease, which involves an autoimmune attack on the lining of your small intestine.
Scientists aren’t certain what propels T cells to do this.
You also can develop cancer that specifically affects your lymphocytes. This type of cancer is called Hodgkin’s disease or non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
There are several different types of Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and the type you have is determined by the type of lymphocytes involved.
Hodgkin’s disease involves only the B cell lymphocytes, for example, while non-Hodgkin lymphoma can involve either the B cell or T cell lymphocytes.
There are over 100 types of autoimmune diseases, we will take a brief look at the more common ones.
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Rheumatoid arthritis, a form of arthritis that attacks the joints
Psoriasis, a condition marked by thick, scaly patches of skin
Psoriatic arthritis, a type of arthritis affecting some people with psoriasis
Lupus, a disease that damages areas of the body that include joints, skin, and organs
Thyroid diseases, including Graves’ disease, where the body makes too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism), and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, where it doesn’t make enough (hypothyroidism) of the hormone
Common Autoimmune Disease Symptoms
Despite the varying types of autoimmune diseases, many of them share similar symptoms. Common symptoms of autoimmune disease include:
- Fatigue
- Joint pain and swelling
- Skin problems
- Abdominal pain or digestive issues
- Recurring fever
- Swollen glands
Autoimmune Disease Risk Factors
Researchers don’t know what causes autoimmune disease, but several theories point to an overactive immune system attacking the body after an infection or injury. We do know that certain risk factors increase the chances of developing autoimmune disorders, including:
- Genetics: Certain disorders such as lupus and multiple sclerosis (MS) tend to run in families. Medical Expert Orbai says “Having a relative with an autoimmune disease increases your risk, but it doesn’t mean you will develop a disease for certain,”
- Weight: Being overweight or obese raises your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis. This could be because more weight puts greater stress on the joints or because fat tissue makes substances that encourage inflammation.
- Smoking: Research has linked smoking to a number of autoimmune diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism and MS.
- Certain medications: “Certain blood pressure medications or antibiotics can trigger drug-induced lupus, which is often a more benign form of lupus,” Orbai says. “Our myositis center also discovered that specific medications used to lower cholesterol, called statins, can trigger statin-induced myopathy.”
Myopathy is a rare autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness. Before starting or stopping any medications, however, make sure to talk to your doctor.
Autoimmune Disease and its effects on Your health
Having lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis raises your risk for heart disease. While taking steps to reduce heart disease is always a good idea, it is even more essential if you have one of these conditions.
The need to keep your heart healthy is very important so have a talk with your doctor about what steps can be taken to keep your heart healthy and strong.
Keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol levels within healthy ranges would be something you can do to encourage heart health. And eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly can also be beneficial to your health.
Taking these steps can also help reduce the symptoms of autoimmune disease. Orban admits that making time for healthy living can be hard, given the fast-paced lives that we live, but she insists that finding the balance is key to living with autoimmune disease.
Treating the symptoms of autoimmune disease “It’s something that’s going to involve commitment, and sometimes it’s going to be tough,” she says. “But learning to listen to your body and being smart about what triggers your disease is important. It’s something you do for yourself”
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