Scientists originally believed that the growth of the immune cells known as macrophage was controlled by a few regulator genes. A recent study however, has proven this not to be the case. Scientist based in thirteen countries around the world have discovered that there are literally hundreds of regulator genes that control the growth of immune cells.
Macrophages are considered the scavengers of the immune system attacking and killing any unwanted bacteria. However, uncontrolled macrophages lead to autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
This recent discovery has shed more insight into the communication between genes and the way in which they interact. With this recent enlightenment scientist are now looking into the effects that immune cells have on the disease multiple sclerosis as well as some types of cancer and new therapeutic techniques that can be implemented to extinguish the affects of these diseases. This discovery will no doubt be a pinnacle one in the advancements of genetic understanding and the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
Original sources:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146878.php http://www.mssociety.org.uk/research/news_in_research/nature_genetics.html
(Isaac Watson 42017811)
