Standard values
In adults, T-lymphocytes usually make up 70% of the total number of lymphocytes in the blood. However, fluctuations between 55% and 85% are also within the normal range in absolute terms. This means that the normal value is between 390 and 2300 cells per microliter. Small fluctuations are quite natural. For example, the lymphocyte count can increase due to stress, physical activity or cigarature consumption.
T lymphocytes in cancer
T-lymphocytes can also play a decisive role in cancer. The task of the T-lymphocytes is to recognize and destroy foreign or mutated cells. Cancer is a disease in which the body’s own cells multiply malignantly and uncontrollably.
The problem with cancer is that the T-lymphocytes do not regard the tumor cells as foreign, but as endogenous and are therefore tolerated by the immune system. Thus, the T-lymphocytes cannot recognize the mutated cancer cells and therefore cannot fight them. Recent research has now developed so-called CAR-T receptors that can bind specifically to cancer cells. These receptors should eventually enable the T-lymphocytes to recognize the cancer cells.
T lymphocytes in multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the nervous system. The cause of multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system is malregulated. T-cells and B-cells play a role in this process.
B-cells represent further cells of the body’s own immune system in addition to the T-cells. In multiple sclerosis, the T and B cells erroneously attack the cells surrounding the nerve fiber, the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath is responsible for the rapid nervous transmission of information. Damage to the myelin sheath worsens or even completely stops the transmission of information.
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