Immune system made simple

MEDICINE CABINET DR DIONG SWEE HOON THE body has an incredible protective mechanism called the immune system. It is designed to defend you against millions of microbes, bacteria, viruses, toxins and parasites that invade your body. The human immune system is made up of a network of specialised cells and organs. It has many facets, a number of which can change to optimise the response to these unwanted invasions.

What is an antigen? An antigen is a substance which is foreign to the body that stimulates the production of antibodies by the immune system. Antigens include foreign proteins, bacteria, viruses, pollen and other materials. Sometimes the process breaks down and the immune system attacks self-cells. This is the case in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and some forms of arthritis and diabetes. There are cases where the immune response to harmless substances is inappropriate. This is the case in allergies and the simple substance that elicits the response is called an allergen. Two transportation highways There are two main fluid systems in the body: blood and lymph. The blood and lymph systems are intertwined throughout the body and they are responsible for transporting white blood cells. The lymph system is most familiar to people because doctors and mothers often check for swollen lymph nodes in the neck. It turns out that the lymph nodes are just one part of a system that extends throughout your body in much the same way your blood vessels do. Lymph is a clearish liquid that bathes the cells with water and nutrients. Lymph is blood plasma the liquid that makes up blood minus the red and white cells. Each cell does not have its own private blood vessel feeding it, yet it has to get food, water, and oxygen to survive. Blood transfers these materials to the lymph through the capillary walls, and lymph carries it to the cells. The cells also produce proteins and waste products and the lymph absorbs these products and carries them away. Any random bacteria that enter the body also find their way into this inter-cell fluid. One job of the lymph system is to drain and filter these fluids to detect and remove the bacteria. Small lymph vessels collect the liquid and move it toward larger vessels so that the fluid finally arrives at the lymph nodes for processing.

Lymph nodes contain filtering tissue and a large number of lymph cells. When fighting infections, the lymph nodes swell with bacteria and the cells fighting the bacteria, to the point where you can actually feel them. Swollen lymph nodes are therefore a good indication that you have an infection of some sort. Once lymph has been filtered through the lymph nodes, it re-enters the bloodstream. Components of the immune system There are certain sites in the body where the cells of the immune system are organised into specific structures. These are classified as central lymphoid tissue (bone marrow, thymus) and peripheral lymphoid tissue (lymph nodes, spleen, mucosaassociated lymphoid tissue): 1. Bone marrow All the cells of the immune system are derived from stem cells in the bone marrow. The bone marrow is the site of origin of red blood cells, white cells (including lymphocytes and macrophages) and platelets. The white blood cells are probably the most important part of your immune system. And it turns out that white blood cells are actually a whole collection of different cells with diverse responsibilities working together to destroy bacteria and viruses. All white blood cells are generally known as leukocytes. 2. Thymus In the thymus gland, lymphoid cells undergo a process of maturation and education prior to release into the circulation. 3. Lymph nodes Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped structures lying along the course of lymphatics. They are aggregated in particular sites such as the neck, axillae, groins and para-aortic region. 4. Spleen The spleen is located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen. It has two main functions: acting as part of the immune system and as a filter. 5. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) In addition to the lymphoid tissue concentrated within the lymph nodes and spleen, lymphoid tissue is also found at other sites, most notably the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and urogenital tract. What are antibodies? Antibodies (also referred to as immunoglobulins and gammaglobulins) are produced by white blood cells. They are Yshaped proteins that respond to a specific antigen (bacteria, virus or toxin). Each antibody has a special section (at the tips of the two branches of the Y) that is sensitive to a specific antigen and binds to it in some way. Immune boosters There are substances that have been noted to increase the immune function of the body. These include: 1. Vitamin C increases the production of infection-fighting white blood cells and antibodies and increases levels of interferon, the antibody that coats cell surfaces, preventing the entry of viruses. 2. Vitamin E stimulates the production of natural killer cells, those that seek out and destroy germs and cancer cells. Vitamin E enhances the production of B-cells, the immune cells that produce antibodies that destroy bacteria. Vitamin E supplementation may also reverse some of the decline in immune response commonly seen in ageing.

3. Carotenoids Beta carotene increases the number of infection-fighting cells, natural killer cells, and helper T-cells. 4. Selenium this mineral increases natural killer cells and mobilises cancer-fighting cells. 5. Echinacea there is some evidence that it stimulates the body to produce more T-lymphocytes and killer white blood cells. It may also stimulate the release of interferons, one of the bodys most potent infection-fighting weapons. 6. Maitake The key to maitakes immune stimulating properties is its content of polysaccharides: beta-glucans. Studies have found that they activate the macrophages of white blood cells.