91download.com supports a wide range of platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Dailymotion, Reddit, Bilibili, Douyin, Xiaohongshu and Zhihu, etc. Click the download button below to parse and download the current video
Have you ever wondered what happens inside your body to keep you alive, even when you're not aware of it? Somewhere within you, your immune system is performing a heroic task, protecting you from the silent threat of cancer. It's an extraordinary story of survival, mutation, and the relentless war between cells.
Why is it that most of us never notice the cancer cells that our bodies produce? The answer lies in the incredible efficiency of our immune system. But let's start at the beginning: What exactly is cancer, and how does our body tackle it?
Cancer begins with corrupted cells that multiply uncontrollably, and it can arise from virtually any type of cell in your body. There are hundreds of different types of cancer, each with its own growth patterns and behaviors. Some grow slowly, while others are aggressive and deadly.
Evolution has shaped cells into survivors, but the emergence of cooperation and division of labor allowed cells to specialize and thrive together. However, for a multicellular organism to remain healthy, the collective's well-being must take precedence over the individual cell's survival. Cancer cells revert to being individuals, breaking away from the collective.
Your body can manage a few rogue cells, but when cancer cells continue to divide, they create a new organism within you, competing for resources and space, and destroying the organs they were once part of. These cells are not malevolent; they simply follow their corrupted programming.
So, how does a cell become corrupted? DNA gets damaged—mutates—tens of thousands of times each day. Most of these mutations are repaired or are benign, but over time, damage accumulates. Lifestyle choices like smoking, drinking, and not using sunscreen can increase DNA damage, but ultimately, just being alive is the simplest way to get cancer.
Cancer typically requires three categories of genes to be corrupted: tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes, and apoptosis genes. When these genes malfunction, cells can no longer repair themselves, multiply uncontrollably, and avoid programmed cell death.
If a cell becomes unable to fix its mistakes, can't destroy itself when damaged, and grows rapidly, it becomes a young cancer cell. These cells must be eliminated quickly before they mutate further and become more resistant to your immune system.
But how does the immune system identify and destroy these corrupted cells? It all comes down to proteins. When oncogenes switch on, they produce oncogene proteins that should not be present in an adult's body. The immune system uses MHC class I molecules to display the proteins inside cells, allowing T cells to identify and destroy corrupted cells.
However, cancer cells can mutate and avoid this process by stopping the production of MHC class I molecules, making them invisible to the immune system. This is where Natural Killer (NK) cells come in. These cells patrol the body, checking for the absence of expected MHC class I molecules. If a cell lacks these display windows, it's hiding something and must be destroyed.
Despite the immune system's impressive defenses, cancer sometimes mutates and evolves, becoming more adept at fighting back. But the arms race is not over. Promising therapies, including cancer-fighting vaccines, engineered T cells, and even NK cells, are on the horizon.
So, while the war against cancer is not yet won, we are on the right path. The silent guardian within us continues to fight, and with ongoing research and advancements, cancer may one day be eliminated forever.
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook