Disease from opposing forces in regulatory control

TL;DR

This paper discusses how imbalances between opposing regulatory forces in biological systems can lead to various diseases, emphasizing the importance of balanced regulation for health.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that opposing forces in regulatory control are fundamental to understanding disease mechanisms across multiple biological systems.

Findings

Imbalance between immune triggers and regulators causes disease.

Opposing forces in growth regulation relate to overgrowth or undergrowth diseases.

Balance of opposing forces is crucial for normal physiological function.

Abstract

Danger requires a strong rapid response. Speedy triggers are prone to false signals. False alarms can be costly, requiring strong negative regulators to oppose the initial triggers. Strongly opposed forces can easily be perturbed, leading to imbalance and disease. For example, immunity and fear response balance strong rapid triggers against widespread slow negative regulators. Diseases of immunity and behavior arise from imbalance. A different opposition of forces occurs in mammalian growth, which balances strong paternally expressed accelerators against maternally expressed suppressors. Diseases of overgrowth or undergrowth arise from imbalance. Other examples of opposing forces and disease include control of dopamine expression and male versus female favored traits.