Lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus, is a long-term autoimmune condition in which the body of a patient forms antibodies against its own components. This makes the immune system attack normal tissues and organs by error, leading to inflammation and potential harm to the whole body. Our focus of study here is to understand how lupus disrupts the normal operation of the immune system, leading to such self-destructive actions (Palm & Erkan, 2023). To understand this disturbance, it is important that one becomes aware of the various kinds of white blood cells (WBCs) and how they function, as these cells form the core of the immune system.

The normal immune system functions to keep the body protected against foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and other harmful substances. This protection employs a complex system of cells and proteins that identify and eliminate these invaders. White blood cells (WBCs), or leukocytes, are at the center of these immune activities. There are some primary WBC types, with definite functions. Neutrophils are usually the first to respond to infection and engulf and destroy microbes. Lymphocytes, which are made up of B cells and T cells, play a critical role in adaptive immunity (Palm & Erkan, 2023). B cells produce antibodies specific to individual invaders, while T cells have a variety of functions, which include killing infected cells directly or helping to activate other immune cells. Monocytes develop into macrophages and dendritic cells, which phagocytize pathogens and present antigens to other immune cells, inducing an immune response. Eosinophils and basophils are involved in allergic reactions and parasitic infections. Balance and normal functioning of these WBC types are essential for good health (Palm & Erkan, 2023).

In lupus, the immune system’s discriminative ability for differentiating foreign intruders and body tissue is compromised. This leads WBCs, particularly lymphocytes (T cells and B cells), to launch a destructive response on healthy tissue and cells incorrectly. In lupus, B cells produce autoantibodies, i.e., antibodies to proteins, tissues, and organs of the body itself (Xie & Chen, 2018). Autoantibodies can potentially form immune complexes that accumulate in organs and induce inflammation and tissue destruction. Both decreased T lymphocytes and the presence of antilymphocyte antibodies have been discovered to be associated with active lupus. While neutrophils are typically tasked with fighting infection, in lupus, the inability of the complement pathway to destroy lupus neutrophils can lead to their buildup (Safaa Abdalhadi et al., 2023). The organs most frequently affected in this mistaken immune attack in lupus are the kidneys (leading to lupus nephritis), the joints (producing arthritis), and the skin (producing rashes). Other organs such as the lungs, heart, and brain could be affected in lupus.

Understanding the different types of WBCs and their normal functions is fundamental to grasping how lupus develops and manifests. Lupus is characterized by a dysregulation of these immune cells (Palm & Erkan, 2023). For instance, the overactivity of B cells leading to autoantibody production and abnormalities in T cell populations are hallmarks of the disease. Furthermore, the involvement of neutrophils in inflammation and the occurrence of leukopenia (low WBC count, particularly lymphocytes) are crucial aspects of lupus pathology (Xie & Chen, 2018). Studying the behavior of these WBCs, such as their numbers (as monitored through complete blood counts), their activity, and the presence of antibodies against them, is essential for diagnosing lupus and assessing its disease activity. Moreover, many lupus treatments, including corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine, and various immunosuppressive drugs like azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab, directly target specific WBCs or their functions to reduce the autoimmune attack (Abdalhadi et al., 2023). Therefore, knowledge of WBC biology is indispensable for developing and implementing effective therapeutic strategies for lupus.

In short, lupus basically derails the normal operation of the immune system through the malfunction of white blood cells. Instead of protecting the body from foreign invaders alone, WBCs in lupus attack the body’s own healthy tissues, leading to chronic inflammation and organ damage (Xie & Chen, 2018). Understanding the individual roles of different WBC types, such as B-cell-mediated autoantibody production and T-cell involvement in the autoimmune process, is necessary to comprehend how and why lupus develops (Palm & Erkan, 2023). This information is most directly applicable to explaining the functions of WBCs and their behaviors, since it is an example of how deviations from these normal processes result in the development and occurrence of a complex human disease, lupus. By observing the WBC response in lupus, we gain a better overall sense of the intricate working of the human immune system and the impact of its dysregulation in autoimmune disease.