• DaddleDew@lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    I’m no immunologist, but there has to be a reason why we evolved so our immune system doesn’t constantly stay on “amber alert”. There has got to be drawbacks.

    • Kirp123@lemmy.world
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      3 hours ago

      So one of the reasons asbestos is so dangerous is that it gets in your lungs where macrophages detect it as being foreign and try to destroy it. The issue is that asbestos is way larger than these cells and it’s pretty resilient so they can’t break it apart and eat it. The cells "get frustrated " so they start releasing inflammatory substances trying to find a way to neutralize this foreign body. That prolonged inflammation is what eventually leads to mesothelioma and other cancers.

      I’m not sure how they plan to avoid the inflammation caused by these cells being in constant fighting infection mode.

    • 🌞 Alexander Daychilde 🌞@lemmy.world
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      4 hours ago

      But the way evolution works is “whatever works that keeps the species alive”.

      We haven’t evolved reading glasses, but they are helpful devices with very few downsides.

      That said, there may well be unintended consequences and effects, sure.

      • Kage520@lemmy.world
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        1 hour ago

        I think of it this way. The immune system is like an army, ready to fight off foreign invaders. If you were a king, would you want a huge standing army at all times, or the ability to draft soldiers as needed? Having a huge standing army is not only a waste of resources if there isn’t anything to fight, but your soldiers might get bored and invent things to fight or just stir up trouble.

        So my guess is you’d be prone to inflammation and develop food sensitivities, but it’s a total guess. If they were the case though, chronic inflammation is really bad long term.