Viruses and bacteria are microorganisms with systems specially adapted to conditions inside the human body. They can cause illnesses that look very like lupus. What are the systems of lupus? How does lupus invade the body and make people sick?
Unlike viruses and bacteria, lupus isn’t a microorganism; it isn’t caused by a foreign invader in the body, it isn’t “caught,” it can’t be spread, and most importantly, it isn’t an illness the body can “fight off.” When viruses and bacteria cause infection, the immune system attacks and destroys the source of the illness. Lupus is a problem with the immune system itself.
The body is built according to coded instructions called genes. They determine cell type and function; there are genes for red blood cells, for bone cells, for skin cells and so on. The immune cells have genes that tell them what chemical markers belong to the body; blood and tissue cells with these markers look like “self” to the immune system. Anything with wrong markers is considered a foreign invader.
The main “attack cells” of the immune system are called lymphocytes; they determine which cells are “self,” and which are invading microorganisms. A microorganism, once recognized by the lymphocytes, is referred to as an “antigen.” Lymphocytes come in two forms: B cells and T cells. B cells can destroy antigens, but they have a larger purpose: they might become “memory cells” that store information about an antigen, or become plasma cells, which produce the antibodies that mark the antigen for destruction. T cells, also called “cytotoxic” or “killer” cells, home in on these antibodies and engulf and destroy the antigen (although there are also “helper” T cells that assist B cells.)
Systems Of Lupus: Antibody Confusion
Normally, T cells are “trained” in the thymus to recognize “self” markers, and do not leave the thymus if they cannot differentiate between antigens and healthy tissue. Lupus, however, is an autoimmune disease – a condition wherein the B and T lymphocytes wrongly identify “self” cells as antigens. The B cells produce antibodies that target healthy tissue (autoantibodies,) and the killer T-cells attack accordingly. This autoimmune response might happen only with skin cells, causing discoid or cutaneous lupus; it might involve major organs or the central nervous system, as with systemic lupus erythematosus. It might produce only mild symptoms; it might also flare in response to sunlight or infection and require strong medications or even hospitalization.
When a cure for lupus is found, it will return the body to proper homeostasis, the natural system of cellular checks and balances that form a healthy immune response. The immune system will react only to invading microorganisms, attack only those invaders, and stop attacking when these invaders are no longer present in the body. In the meantime, the best way to combat lupus is through good self-care: a healthy diet, sufficient rest and regular exercise. Keeping the body strong makes treatment more effective, helps tissues heal faster and better, reduces stress, elevates mood and helps to keep lupus flares minimal.
