How does an immune system work?
First things FIRST, ladies and gentlemen - we’re going to dive into immunology via an e-news series and I want you to know this is an expansive topic that is ever changing, but I am going to feebly work to simplify some big ideas.
This will give us a common language to understand chronic infections and how they may or may not be limiting your health.
For today, we’re thinking on how an immune system works with an everyday challenge - you may see this process in action with a wintertime sick family member. I find that learning the mechanics of how the body fights off pathogens gives my mind rest when sickness is hanging out for many days…and remember, there are many complex functions of the immune system: today, we’re diving into an initial ideal pathogen kill.
Your immune system isn’t just at work when a pathogen takes root - it’s at work every moment of everyday of your life as fungi, bacteria and virus’ try to gain access to a warm and energetic host that can provide a warm home, free food, energy to run on and an endlessly life of loafing on your body’s dime. It’s the immune system that keeps these pathogens from making your body their permanent address.
Part 1: Arms of the Immune System
Taking a bird’s eye view of the immune system, we have 4 main arms: TH1, TH2, TH3 and TH17. We won’t go deep here, but we will introduce everyone with a short bio.
TH1 KILLER: Your killer arm of the immune system. Mediated by your cells, they do the work to attack and kill pathogens ASAP directly or send messages to other immune cells to come help attack invaders. They even do this when pathogens are already lodged in your cells. TH1 responds immediately to an invader, such a surrounding a splinter with pus: thank you TH1. This side is also hushed when you’re pregnant, so your body doesn’t abort the fetus that it sees as an invader or “non-self”.
TH2 ANTIBODY: The antibody and inflammation arm of the immune system. These cells attack pathogens in a different way, by creating messages that encourage other immune cells to produce antibodies. Antibodies then attack the pathogens - including virus’ and bacteria as well as allergens. TH2 cells do not enter infected cells. When this system is working too strongly, it makes it hard for a body to fight off virus’, bacteria and fungal pathogens. When TH2 is dominant, we tend to struggle with inflammation, allergies, food sensitivities or allergies from the excess antibodies. ADHD, neurological struggles, Autoimmunity, recurrent parasites are common when TH2 is dominant.
TH3 REGULATOR: Regularity and suppressor cells can be produced by this arm of the immune system to regulate or suppress autoimmunity. This is also the arm of the immune system you can leverage by “positive living” - getting “high on life” through a positive mental attitude, healthy family support, appreciation for life and positive self esteem can release natural opioids that support TH3 activation. TH3 is like your best friend - we always want more TH3. TH3 is also activated via healthy natural opioids during a workout that takes you just a few reps past the feeling of not being able to go further, this sort of exercise can stimulate healthy immune balance.
TH17 AUTOIMMUNE FIRE: This immune response stimulates autoimmunity or the immune systems’ activity directed at “self” or your body. No thank you. TH17 adds fuel to the fire of autoimmunity and we always want to avoid over activating TH17. Negative attitudes, poor relationships, resentment, blame, violence and internal mental stress promotes cells that activate TH17. ❤️ Ever have a friend leave an unhealthy marriage and their health immediately cascades through many autoimmune diseases? TH17 is at the helm. ❤️ Minimize external stressors like strict deadlines, unrealistic goals, bad jobs and unhealthy environments, they activate TH17. Exercising to the point of exhaustion or overtraining also activates TH17. Back away from double HIIT classes in January.
TH1 and TH2 are our main players, and we want them forever at balance…unless you’re pregnant, then long live TH2 for that season. Afterwards we want balance, but often the body struggles to get back to balance and postpartum women experience immune and autoimmune struggles in this phase.
TH17 feel overwhelming? Don’t forget your best friend, TH3, is always there for you. You can add positivity, healthy exercise and good relationships to boost your immunity.
Part 2: Simple Immune Scenario Underway
Let’s say you cut your hand and dirt, bacteria, fungus and virus are present at the wound site. The cells that are hurt or dying nearby the cut send out alarms to the immune system. Large blob cells called macrophages show up first. They begin attacking the pathogens by grabbing and eating them whole. When there are too many pathogens and the macrophages can’t keep up, they call in Neutrophils.
Neutrophils live to kill and activate other cells- they’re some of the first responders - essentially suicide bombers able to neutralize a few pathogens per neutrophil. Once a few pathogens are neutralized, the neutrophil will suicide bomb themselves in a few days time. Short life. Neutrophils are such intense fighters that they can kill healthy cells in the process. They evolved to commit suicide after 5 days to protect the body.
We see neutrophil values on the blood test: CBC with differential, which can alert us to an early or chronic immune challenge to the body. This elevated value doesn’t tell us much more than several possibilities for roots to immune activations, but this can be the first piece of info we need to rule chronic infections in or out.
During this time, your immune system sends chemicals in to inflame the area, so that more immune cells can arrive, easily on these puffed-up pathways at the site of the cut. If this first immune defense can’t get the immune threat under control at this point, dendritic cells are called in to help.
Dendritic cells show up to the crime scene, roll around in the pathogen, purposely covering themselves in samples of the problem, then take to the body’s lymphatic system via a lymph node in about a day.
❤️ Dendritic cells are always looking for the perfect match. ❤️ As the dendritic cell travels around the body, it rubs its pathogen-covered-self on helper T-cells looking for a match. A specific Helper T-cell will recognize the bacteria or virus when the dendritic cell rubs up against it: a connection is made that signals the correct Helper T-cell for this pathogen has been found.
The Helper T-cell with now replicate itself and its weapon against your specific virus or bacteria (pathogen). YAY! An effective killer. Boo, this effective killer is slow in its replication preparation for battle. This process may take a couple days and take your body down to conserve and use resources for production. Sick feels.
Once Helper T-cells have multiplied, a third of the group will head straight to the battlefield (TH1 mode!) to help tired macrophage soldiers, giving them killing superpowers and an influx of energy, if you will. The battlefield is now a full and effective war against the pathogens.
The next third will stay back in the lymph node to create longer lasting immunity.
The final third of your Helper T-cells, head out to meet up with B-cells, or your body’s antibody factories (TH2 mode!). B-cells can make perfect antibodies for any enemy that invades your body. Antibodies are just little weapons that work very hard and die very fast. Antibodies bind to the surface of pathogen intruders - you know these guys: IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE antibodies.
Helper T-cells peruse the B-cell selection until they find the right B-cell to pump out antibodies against your specific pathogen at rapid rates. About a week after the initial immune stimulus, these B-cell produced antibodies are the second string of defense, attacking the pathogens on the battlefield by pinching and clumping up the pathogen, rendering them unable to move, fight or replicate.
The immune system’s teamwork gets a handle on the infection. As your immune cells begin to notice the progress, the cells begin killing themselves to save resources. Hurrah! Your body won against the pathogen!
Memory time. A few of the Helper T-Cells (TH1) stick around to morph into memory cells. What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger, am I right? These memory cells will guard the area’s tissues for years, insuring the same pathogen doesn’t gain ground here again. A few B-cells (TH2) will stick around, producing a low level of antibodies - giving you immunity against this pathogen for the rest of your life.
See that TH1 and TH2 teamwork? That’s what we want. Back and forth on the attack, and resolving to leave a balanced, team response to create long-term immunity against a pathogen.
Too much, too deep or too fast? Whether you loved this or skipped it….
A new tip you can put into action today? Rub your thymus.
The thymus is 1 of 2 main immune organs (the other: the spleen), responsible for maturing T-cells that can address the specific sickness pathogen now. When we’re young, they thymus is the largest size it will be, because immune maturation happens most as our young body comes into contact with zillions of different pathogens. We need the most of what the thymus produces when we’re young, but also a bummer that it becomes lest active once we get very old and struggle to fight illness.
The thymus reaches peak size in puberty, then slowly shrinks as we age. The acupuncture point for stimulating the organ is midway along the sternum or breastbone: essentially where cleavage would connect if you squeeze your pecs together. Place the heel of your hand midway on your sternum and give it 30 or so gentle swirls, a few times a day. And teach your kiddos to treat themselves to this positive immune stimulus anytime they’re feeling run down.
