Hey guys, for my potluck on primate immunology I have an
article of a study done in the UK that shows how a baby’s birth month can
affect the development of its immune system.
The study provides a biological basis for why individuals born in May
have a greater chance of developing multiple sclerosis than those born in
November. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a
disorder where the immune system damages the central nervous system through
ways such as autoreactive T-cells, cells that attack your own body’s cells. MS is also associated with low levels of
Vitamin D. Samples of blood from the
umbilical cord were extracted from 50 babies born in the month of November and
50 from the month of May, and levels of autoreactive T-cells and Vitamin D were
measured. They found that babies born in
May had double the level of autoreactive T-cells and about 20% less Vitamin D than
babies born in November. More long-term
studies need to be carried out to prove causation.
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