WHITE BLOOD CELL
Even if I work…
What are you doing? Hurry up and transport that oxygen!
Even if I work,
nothing changes.
What exactly do we have to work for?
Even so, we have to work.
As long as there is work to do.
Welcome, everyone.
You, who used to be erythroblasts and achieved enucleation without trouble,
will become the same working red blood cells as we are from now on.
For this body's brightest future,
your hard work is very essential.
We, who have the same job as you, are your family.
Let's work together hand in hand and help each other out.
This is the body in which your work starts from today.
In this video, we will introduce you to
its anatomy and what kinds of cells work here.
First, this is the place where Red Blood Cells
transport oxygen, called the blood vessel.
Not only you. Here, there are also White Blood Cells
eliminating foreign matter inside the body.
There are also cells getting rid of virus-infected cells
called Killer T Cells
and Macrophages whose purpose is to clean up the inner body.
Blood vessels serve as a path for various cells.
These are the Platelets that heal the damaged blood vessels.
-Hello! -Hello.
They greeted us.
It's important to give others greetings so that we can work comfortably.
And then the most important places where you work,
which are the internal organs.
Each organ serves its own function
and contains specialized cells working inside.
There are also organs that specifically take care of the Red Blood Cells.
I'm looking forward to it!
Oh, yes.
Today, we will show you an example.
Let's hear gastric chief cell's commentary.
What are you doing right now?
This is a digestive process.
It's an important job to digest nutrition.
Please provide some tips for the new Red Blood Cells.
Oh, yes.
Please tell me your name when you come to deliver things to the stomach.
It's better to work with guys whose names you know
than the ones with only familiar faces, am I right?
I'm waiting for you, guys!
Even if they're cells from different organs,
they are fellow work colleagues in this body.
By interacting with each other, you can work in a better environment.
The introduction video ends here.
After this, you'll be divided into several groups for on-site training.
Any questions?
Me!
Go ahead.
How much overtime must we take?
I won't say there's no overtime, but we always try to minimize that.
It is the so-called Reformed Work Style.
I see. I'm glad then.
With shorter, more efficient working hours to enhance welfare
we shall create a more comfortable workplace.
I think this work seems too easy.
Yeah, I like the atmosphere too.
And the other organs' cells seem kind.
Anyway, what do you read?
I have to remember the delivery destination.
You're so earnest.
Is that really necessary for on-site training, though?
Well, you can say that.
No need to put extra effort into a simple job like transporting oxygen.
You're late, new recruits.
Are you our seniors for on-site training?
Get the oxygen already. We have to go.
Hurry up! One person carries two boxes!
-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!
What are we going to do now?
Of course we're going to work and transport that oxygen.
We have to work already?
No, we're still interning--
There's no time for internships. Just think of this as an actual job.
This body doesn't have enough workers and time, so we better hurry.
What about Reformed Work Style?
There is only harsh labor that never ends.
Because you're Red Blood Cells now,
go transport the oxygen without skipping a beat!
Opening aortic valve.
Let's work with smiles again today to avoid incidents at work.
Go! Run!
Run until you collapse! Get to work!
Work until your very last end!
This is the starting point.
The start of our hard labor in this body.
So tight!
Never slow down. Speed up!
Yes, sir!
What the heck is this? This is way different from what we've learned!
Fool! AC1677, you should have turned this corner!
Okay!
Which way is it?
You're in the way. Step aside!
I'm so sorry!
You're Platelets, right? Hello--
Just step aside! I don't need your greetings!
Don't waste my time!
I'm sorry.
Sorry, we have to hurry.
Stomach.
A place to digest food with gastric acid secreted from the stomach wall.
Then the food is turned into a soggy state by the digestive enzyme called pepsin.
That's when the first stage of digestion takes place.
Here's your oxygen.
He's in the introduction video.
You're late!
Why did you take so much time just to deliver one box of oxygen?
I'm sorry, this is my first day at work, so--
I don't care!
When you're at a workplace, there is neither newcomer nor veteran.
Yes, my apologies!
Also, my name is AA2153. I started working here today.
It's my name.
How could I remember such a trivial thing?
All of you have the same name and face!
Read the situation!
But in the introduction video, you said you preferred knowing our names.
Do they still use that old video?
This body is in a more severe situation compared
to the time when that video was taken.
There is no leisure time anymore.
How come?
Besides the accumulated fatigue, this body also suffers from sleep deprivation.
To cap things off, this body is an alcoholic and eats irregularly.
No matter how hard we work, this body keeps getting worse.
Oh, no.
If you get it, transport more oxygen quickly!
Sure!
Hey, Red Blood Cell!
Recently, the oxygen supply is far from enough!
I'm sorry, ma'am!
The order from above is to give priority to the vital organs.
Are they telling us cells in the extremities to rot and die?
I'm terribly sorry!
Sorry, ma'am.
We will get a large supply of oxygen soon.
We will keep you in mind when that time comes.
Seriously?
I'll give you special treatment, ma'am.
Excuse us.
Let's go, newbie.
Thanks a lot, sir.
So we'll get a large supply of oxygen, won't we?
There's no such thing as that.
There's no end to it if you get caught up with such demands.
Oh, I see.
I'm sorry, you have to carry my oxygen load.
If you position the oxygen like this, it's easier to carry.
Oh, you're right!
It's unfortunate you have to start your work at a time like this.
Normally, showing the ropes to the newbies is part of our job,
but no one here has the time to do so.
Why are we so short of workers?
It's because of stress.
To prioritize life support, the blood flow to the extremity will be cut.
This body wasn't always like this.
Let's go! If we don't meet our quota, our boss will get mad at us.
Sir!
How can you still laugh at a time like this?
It's simple. Just kill your emotions.
You'll be in pain if you think you can relax or take a break.
If you kill your emotions completely, you can keep your smile.
He's right. It's a forced smile.
What the heck? The blood vessels are all rocky!
Be careful where you step your foot, newbie.
Yes!
You fool! Don't drop that oxygen! It's more important than our lives!
Those LDLs!
Hey, wait!
Keep yourself together. Can you stand?
Yes. What are those guys?
LDL, or the so-called bad cholesterol.
They're illegally dumping cholesterol secreted by the liver.
Illegal dumping?
Geez.
If this continues, the blood vessels will harden and become completely clogged.
We won't be able to pass through anymore!
What do you mean by that?
It's because of the body's oxidation.
Oxidation?
This is one of the aftermaths of stress.
Due to the increased reactive oxygen species caused by stress,
cholesterol develops anti-oxidation abilities,
so it gets brought out into the bloodstream.
So that's why it's so rocky.
On top of that, since the immune system has gone weaker,
bacteria have started penetrating as well.
Bacteria…
Well,
this body--
will it be okay?
Don't think unnecessarily!
We just have to kill our emotions and transport the oxygen.
We're back. And this was only the first lap.
You can rest a bit before your second lap.
Yes.
I want to see the situation there.
So tired.
Stand up.
Who said you could rest?
We don't even have break time!
What? Well--
Hey, stop it.
He went around the whole body for his first day,
so of course he was exhausted.
Don't whine over such small things.
We have to run several laps around the whole body each day.
Back when we were still beginners, our work was looser--
Our working hours are a mess because of that!
If you have time to look back at the past, you better use it to work more.
I'll get back to work.
Don't spoil these newcomers rotten anymore.
Up front is where the carotid artery towards the head
and the descending aorta towards the body separate, right?
You're excellent, newbie.
Next, we take the descending aorta to the gastrointestinal area
before we head back to the heart.
Yes!
What is that gas?
Are you okay?
Idiot! Don't go near there! That's carbon monoxide!
Carbon monoxide?
We, Red Blood Cells, contain a lot of hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin binds very easily to carbon monoxide.
Hemoglobin.
A protein in red blood cells that contains iron prosthetic group,
giving red color to them.
Hemoglobin binds oxygen so that Red Blood Cells can transport it.
We won't be able to carry oxygen if our hemoglobin binds to carbon monoxide!
Which means this body will asphyxiate!
Carbon monoxide has entered the circulatory system!
Stimulation to the central nervous system! It seems a toxin has penetrated the body!
A toxin, you say?
Heart rate increased! Blood pressure is going up!
The capillaries will shrink!
What is happening? The walls--
How's the toxin analysis?
Acetylcholine receptors are going into excitation,
and there's chaos in the command system!
Acetylcholine receptors.
They're protein structures found within the synapses.
They receive the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
and then transmit the information across the nervous system.
It allows smooth muscle and skeletal muscle to move and perspire.
It's acting on acetylcholine receptors? Does that mean--
Everyone?
We must help them.
It's too late!
They've become carboxyhemoglobin!
Carboxyhemoglobin.
Hemoglobin that is bonded with carbon monoxide.
In this state, Red Blood Cells can't carry oxygen.
Still, how did carbon monoxide get in here?
Sir!
That's--
At a time like this, bacteria have invaded the blood vessels as well!
Bacteria?
It's pneumococcus.
Pneumococcus.
A pathogenic bacteria found in the respiratory tracts
that cause pneumonia.
This bacteria is tough and very toxic.
What should we do?
We have no choice but to run!
They will attack cells to hunt their nutrients.
We will get hemolyzed too!
She's…
The exterminator who cleans up bacteria that enter the body.
White Blood Cell!
White Blood Cell or the so-called Neutrophil.
Their main job is to eradicate bacteria
and viruses that penetrate the body from the outside.
Sorry I'm late.
The bacteria are breeding everywhere. We're so busy getting rid of them.
You're a newbie?
Yes.
Leave these guys to me!
Let's go, newbie.
What? Go where?
Isn't it obvious?
We're going to transport the oxygen!
If the oxygen supply stops, cells are going to be depleted.
There is no resting when it comes to our work!
But in these conditions, even though it's an order--
Stop kidding around! I'm sick and tired of working like this!
Listen to me, newbie.
To become Red Blood Cells,
we give up what normal cells have such as nuclei and mitochondria.
We throw away all our organelles.
90% of our body weight is made of hemoglobin.
That means we are cells designed for transporting oxygen.
We travel the same route everyday 200,000 to 300,000 times a lifetime
in order to transport oxygen everyday throughout the whole body!
This isn't an order.
This is what we are meant to do!
No need to think much. Just kill your emotions
and transport the oxygen!
We don't need the faint-hearted.
You go down the descending aorta and bring the carbon dioxide
back to the lungs safely.
I suppose that route is still safe.
I'll carry your oxygen up to the brain through the carotid artery.
The brain cells are our top priority, after all.
The carotid artery, you say?
White Blood Cell lady, I'll leave the bacteria to you!
Sir, it's impossible! If you force your way--
And I leave the rest to you.
Become a fine Red Blood Cell, got it?
Sorry. I can't pass my baton in a better situation.
Sir!
No cell would be able to kill their emotions so easily.
Sir!
Don't waste his resolve.
Come with me.
Carbon monoxide emergency status has now been lifted.
To all cells, please take care when venturing outside.
Have you calmed down now?
Yes. Thanks for saving me, White Blood Cell.
It's okay, that's part of my job.
Well, White Blood Cell.
Does our work have to involve risking our lives?
To find that answer, maybe you just have to keep working.
Where are you going?
Lungs.
I want to confirm something about the carbon monoxide.
Lungs.
Organs in charge of inhaling oxygen from the outside air
and exhaling carbon dioxide brought back
by the Red Blood Cells to the outside air.
What on earth is all this grime?
The abnormal situation is called "smoking".
It's the first time in ten years.
Smoking? And this sort of situation has happened before?
Look at those. The past smoking stains are still around.
Just when we had almost finished cleaning them up.
They've detected a poison that acts on the acetylcholine receptors
along the nerves, called nicotine.
Why did this body absorb something like that on purpose?
To get that temporary hit of pleasure is one of the reasons.
In any case, nicotine is very addictive.
From now on, this sort of thing will probably keep on happening.
So be ready for it.
It can't be!
Red Blood Cells, please transport the oxygen
through the whole body immediately.
Once again.
Red Blood Cells, please transport the oxygen
through the whole body immediately.
The smoking that was about to resume after ten years.
It's just the beginning of a catastrophe that will engulf this body.
NEXT EPISODE
I have always wanted to come to the liver.
Calm down. This is called alcohol.
As long as they're here, I don't want to show my weakness.
Subtitle translation by: Akbar Anshori