Part V: Content Cytokine Storms

To-Do Date: Mar 10 at 9:30am

There is one more piece of the immune system puzzle that we need to understand; cytokine storms. You  probably have read about these in the news and realize that they are one of the more dangerous aspects of SARS-COV2 inflections.  

 

Cytokines

Cytokines are molecules produced by many different types of WBCs. Their primary function is to trigger cell division and increase the number of that specific WBC, for example a Helper T-Cell that matches a particular antigen.  

 

Cytokine Storms

Some pathogens cause WBC's to release large amounts of cytokines and these in turn cause the WBC's (Helper T-Cells, etc) to divide and produce many clones of themselves. But since this process happens without an Antigen Presenting Cell,  all of these newly cloned Helper T-Cells, Cytotoxic T-cells and B- Cells are not targeted at a particular pathogen. Instead they attack our own cells. And since these WBC's are in our blood stream, they attack our blood cells- red blood cells, and white blood cells alike. This causes blood clots and damage to blood vessels. Then the organs that are relying on those blood vessels begin to fail

 

Here is a video where I review Specific Immune Defense and explain about cytokines