The human body is gifted with the ability to keep itself free from disease-causing invaders. Our immune system is an amazing constellation of natural defense mechanisms that protect the body against attacks from disease-causing organisms. It is composed of individual microscopic cells and molecules that have widespread access to every part of the body through a vast network of interconnected lymphatic vessels.

Have you ever wondered why some people come down with the flu or a cold, while others stay healthy even though they share the same environment? The strength of the immune system is what makes the difference between someone who gets sick and someone who doesn’t.

To meet the challenge of protecting the body against infection by an ever-increasing and evolving set of pathogenic (disease-causing) micro-organisms, your immune system is armed with multiple mechanisms capable of recognizing and fighting off the constant barrage of attacks.

How the Immune System Works

The immune system works by a series of layered defenses, each more specific and efficient than the previous. Once a pathogen breaks the first line of defense – the skin, mucus membranes, and lytic enzymes – the immune system instantly reacts to the invasion by enhancing production of a family of signaling molecules called cytokines. These cytokines, in turn, send messages to other cells thereby activating the two limbs of the natural, or non-specific, immune response: natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages.

As shown in Figure 1 (pathway A), once an invading pathogen breaches the first line of defense barriers, including skin and mucus membranes; then the short-lived, limited, and non-specific effect of NK cells and macrophages take over in order to attack and destroy the invader.

Figure 1 - How the immune system reacts to a pathogen1.

(For further explanation of the details of the immune system, see Janeway, C.A. Jr., Travers, P., Walport, M.W. and Shlomchik M. 2001. Immunobiology, 5th ed., Garland Publishing, New York.)

Natural immunity is immediate, but short-lived, and serves primarily to slow progression of disease while a more sophisticated and effective immune response develops. This specific response is mediated by B-cells and T-cells, which have the ability to "remember" a specific infectious agent they have encountered before. When pathogens that have invaded the body in the past are re-encountered, the immune response is even stronger and more rapid than it was when the pathogen was first encountered.

Subsequently, in a matter of a few days, the pathogen is confronted with a full-blown specific immune response (Figure 1, pathway B), mediated by cytotoxic T-cells, which are especially effective at killing cells infected with viruses, and B-cells, which secrete specific antibodies that remove extracellular pathogens and toxins.

How the Balance between Th1 and Th2 T-Cells Affects Disease

In addition, there is a an overall balance that is maintained in the body between two sets of T-cells, called Th1 and Th2. Th1 cells stimulate a so-called "pro-inflammatory" immune response that is tailored to destroying intracellular viruses, bacteria and parasites. Th2 cells stimulate a so-called "anti-inflammatory" immune response, which is suited to destroying pathogens and toxins found in fluids outside of body cells. The Th1 / Th2 balance shifts to favour the appropriate response against a particular invading pathogen (Figure 2).

Figure 2 - Immune response to a pathogen is regulated by the Th1/Th2 balance2.

Figure 2a - When the balance is tipped in the Th1 direction, it favors the production of T-cell mediated responses, and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This results in the destruction of intracellular viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

Figure 2b - When the balance is tipped in the Th2 direction, it favors the production of antibody responses, and production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. This results is the destruction of extracellular pathogens and toxins.

(For further explanation, see Kidd M. Altern. Med. Rev. 8(3), 223-246 (2003)).

Supporting Your Immune System

People with an immune system functioning below normal are more vulnerable to the constant environmental bombardment on the body by toxic materials, damaging radiation, bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other harmful sources. The negative effects on the immune system are compounded by various lifestyle factors including daily stress, poor nutrition, smoking, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol consumption, etc.

The immune system in healthy people is robust and functions very effectively throughout most of the course of one’s lifetime, showing some natural age-related deterioration in the very elderly. However, when one’s living environment includes any combination of the negative factors noted above, then the immune system can become significantly weakened. Failure to maintain a proper diet, combined with stress factors, has been shown to weaken the immune systems of even healthy, college-aged adults. Therefore, there is a need at all ages to incorporate a healthy lifestyle in order to maintain a fully functioning immune system; however, even in the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, many of the factors mentioned above that act to lower immune function cannot be completely avoided.

One of the ways to maintain a healthy immune system, for people of all ages, is to take immune system modulators. Matol Biomune Code 22^TM contains 5 ingredients which have all individually been shown to modulate the immune system.

(For further explanation, see Ellard DR et al. Stress and Health. 21, 245-253 (2005)).

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