Khaberni - A recent medical study has revealed the existence of a factor that can lead to a dysfunction in the functioning of the immune system, thereby increasing the body's susceptibility to diseases and inflammations.
Nature Immunology indicated that scientists from the University of Edinburgh discovered that a lack of oxygen in the body can cause changes in the DNA structure within neutrophils, which are cells responsible for the first line of defense against infections.
According to the study, these genetic changes decrease the body's ability to fight pathogens, and may continue even after oxygen levels return to normal.
The researchers based their study on analyzing blood samples from patients recovering from acute respiratory distress syndrome, in addition to volunteers who returned from high-altitude areas with low oxygen levels. The analysis revealed that the lack of oxygen leads to a molecular process known as "histone clipping," a process that alters DNA composition and affects the mechanism of gene activation and deactivation.
The scientists noted that this effect is not limited to just mature neutrophils but also extends to the progenitor cells in the bone marrow from which they originate, indicating long-term reprogramming of the immune system.
The researchers believe that this discovery may explain why some patients continue to experience weakened immunity and susceptibility to infections even after recovering from severe pulmonary diseases. The scientific team hopes that future research will help find ways to reverse these changes and restore immune system efficiency after exposure to oxygen deficiency.
