Biography
Biography: Tracy Kingolih
Abstract
Mutation is a change in an organism’s genetic composition. It can be cause by some forms of radiation, some chemical substances and viral infection. Mutation can cause neurological disorders when it takes place in either the neurons or other body cells. a) In other body cells. Once mutation takes place, mutant cells are produced. They could either be begnin (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Whether the mutant cells are malignant or not, the body’s immune system identifies them to be different from the normal body cells i.e, they lack histocompactibility. This identification is made possible by the presence of T-cell epitopes bound to the Major Histocompactibility Complex Class I, found on the surface of cells. Once the T-cell lymphocytes identify a change on the MHC Class I peptides on a mutant cell(s), those cells are identified as antigens and antibodies are released to destroy them. In this antigen identification process, the molecules that are used by these mutants in growth are identified and are also considered as antigens. Usually, these mutant growth-enabling molecules are in many cases identical to the signaling molecules used by nerve and muscle cells in communicating with each other. They include the synaptic plasma membrane channels e.g the voltage gated potassium chanel and also neurotransmitter receptors e.g the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Through the specific antibodies of these antigens, the immune system is able to disable or stop this autocrine growth and possible metastasis by impairing these molecules. In doing this however, these antibodies in the blood plasma reach the nervous system and impair synaptic transmission in the CNS and the PNS. These antibodies are pathogenic to nerves in that they cause demyelination, inflammation, scar formation and axonal destruction in their bid to destroy the identified molecular antigens. This neuropathy leads to neuro-degenerative syndromes. This process can take place in the fetus if the mutation takes place in the mother’s body and also if the mutation takes place in the fetus’ body. If mutation takes place in the mother’s body, the antigen specific antibodies may pass through the placenta into the baby’s circulatory and nervous system, causing damage to both the CNS and the PNS. This accounts for congenital nervous disorders like cerebral palsy.b) In neuron cells. Here, mutation causes neuro-degeneration in that, when the immune system is attacking the mutant neuron buds, it ends up damaging the neurons directly. It also impairs transmission molecules, creating neuron impairment. If this mutation is malignant, it furthers neuro-degeneration by ceasing normal centron and axonal function. Also, if this mutation is caused by viral infection, neuro-degeneration can take place in five ways-: 1. Viral neuropathy. 2. Viral neuron reprogramming. 3. Induced neuron malignancy. 4. Neuron sclerosis. 5. Neuron apoptosis / necrosis.