Question

Marie Curie was a famous French-Polish scientist known for her pioneering research on radioactivity. Her work not only brought her fame but her death as well; she developed aplastic anemia due to radiation exposure. She experienced recurrent and prolonged infections (viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal). Explain why she suffered from recurrent infections. Be sure to mention the different types of WBC and the relation to the various infections, and the reasons why she lacked the cell-mediated and the humeral response.

Answer 1

The various types of WBCs are Lymphocytes (T and B lymphocytes), Monocytes, Eosinophils, Neutrophils and Basophils. Lymphocytes (T-lymphocytes) helps in cell mediated immunity and production of cytokines, B- lymphocytes helps in humoral immunity. During infection the Neutrophils increases in numbers to fight the cause of infection. Monocytes kills bacterias by phagocytosis. In response to allergic reactions Basophils are produced and Eosinophils helps in fight against infections. In case of aplastic anemia there is decrease in number of Lymphocytes (T and B) which leads to decrease in cell mediated immunity and humoral immunity which causes immunosuppression. Also in aplastic anemia there is reduction of Red blood cells, White blood cells including lymphocytes and blood platelets. As discussed WBCs helps in fighting infections and providing cell mediated immunity and humoral immunity therefore the decrease in WBCs leads to recurrent infections. Exposure to radiation caused aplastic anemia in Madam Curie due to which she suffered recurrent infections.