THE NEWBORN'S IMMUNE SYSTEM IS WELL-BUILT THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT

WASHINGTON: Scientists have found that the immune system of newborn infants is actually harder than what was thought in the past.

Previously, we consider that newborn infants have immature protection system (immune system) that can’t trigger an immediate response but a new research has revealed that newborn babies have a stronger immune system. Their immune T cells might hold the power to induce an inflammatory response to bacteria.

Immune System:

The immune system is the scheme of biological structures and processes in an organism that defend him from diseases.

Organs of Immune System:

The following image points the organs of the immune system in human body.

This image points various immune system organs in human body.
Image credit goes to NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

Study:

This new study is conducted by King’s College London exposing that newborn infants’ immune system works very differentially from adults. Although their immune system runs very differently to that of adults, babies may still be able to put on a strong immune defense.

Although, newborn infants are very prone to pathogens, it was thought that their T-cells were suppressed to some extent to prevent inflammatory diseases.

Scientists have discovered a new cell in newborn named Whislt T-cells, which are for the most part different from adults. They are not dissimilar for the suppressing; rather they have manufactured a powerful anti bacterial molecule named IL8, which was not previously given importance in immune system’s T-cells. The function of Whislt T-cell is to activate neutrophils to show aggression to foreign invaders.

Now scientists are aimed at boosting the immune system of neonates in intensive care where inflammatory diseases results in deaths of many neonates. An inflammatory disease Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC), tears down tissues in the gut. For this disease mortality rate are 15-30 percent in England.