Source : Newscientist
The reason the human jawbone does not become infected when we lose a tooth is revealed - it has an immune system all of its own
WHY is it that when we lose a tooth our jawbone doesn't become infected, even though our mouth is teeming with bacteria? It turns out that bone has a previously unknown immune system all of its own, a discovery that could help doctors perform bone grafts and treat gum disease.
Our bodies fight off most pathogens using white blood cells that patrol the bloodstream. New cells have to be created to combat each new type of invader, and this takes time. So some tissues that are under constant siege from bacteria have developed their own type of rapid immune response. Certain skin cells, for example, produce chains of amino acids that attack bacteria which have broken through the skin's upper layers. These chains act as a universal antibiotic.
The reason the human jawbone does not become infected when we lose a tooth is revealed - it has an immune system all of its own
WHY is it that when we lose a tooth our jawbone doesn't become infected, even though our mouth is teeming with bacteria? It turns out that bone has a previously unknown immune system all of its own, a discovery that could help doctors perform bone grafts and treat gum disease.
Our bodies fight off most pathogens using white blood cells that patrol the bloodstream. New cells have to be created to combat each new type of invader, and this takes time. So some tissues that are under constant siege from bacteria have developed their own type of rapid immune response. Certain skin cells, for example, produce chains of amino acids that attack bacteria which have broken through the skin's upper layers. These chains act as a universal antibiotic.