In a new study, a new molecule was discovered for which it is claimed plays a key role in an "inflammatory" disease:
QUOTE: ...The key to maintaining this mucosal barrier, the scientists discovered, is the "peacekeeper" activity of T-bet in the dendritic cells of the intestine's immune system. When T-bet is at normal levels, the boundary - a kind of demilitarized zone - remains intact and prevents trouble from pathogenic bacteria. But if T-bet is insufficient, the dendritic cells overproduce a powerful chemical called TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) that triggers inflammation and causes normal cells to die. In ulcerative colitis, the T-bet-related excess of TNF-alpha leads to the death of cells making up the epithelial barrier of the colon, enabling harmful bacteria to chronically inflame the intestinal wall.
The scientists bred strains of mice that lacked T-bet and showed that the resulting disease was virtually identical to human ulcerative colitis... UNQUOTE.
The problem is that they don't seem to realize that "germs" are not likely to be a problem if conditions are optimal, but instead there is this statement (made by the author of the report):
QUOTE ...Beneficial bacteria in the colon aid in digestion and extraction of nutrients from food. However, harmful microbes also reside in the intestine, so animals that harbor bacteria have evolved a boundary, or barrier, in the form of the intestinal lining to keep the dangerous bacteria from injuring the colon wall... UNQUOTE.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071004121042.htm |
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