Interactions of the Immune System and Central Nervous System - Help by Homeopathy.
It is really fascinating to know the interactions of the immune system and central nervous systems as is also the current topic of research in occupational and social health as considered by many eminent researchers. To understand the relation of these two we need to know a little bit of basics regarding both. I will first make a brief outline of the overview of immune system followed by the interactions as would be preferred by most of the readers in Part-1. In Part- 2 we would try to understand the drastic effects these interactions between immune system and central nervous system can end up with. Finally, I would like to brief you how “HOMEOPATHY” can come at the rescue of the sufferer or the patient in Part-3.
PART-1
Let us start with developing an “Overview of immune system” in brief. Immune system is the one that is having the capacity to protect the body from the foreign pathogen invasions – as from various sources such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. This mission is accomplished through various mechanisms and is done at various levels by many types of immune cells. I think we all knew what happens when this system fails or comprises as seen in various disorders, among which the deadliest one as known to all by this century, AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).
The cells and tissues that constitute the immune system are derived from the bone marrow. The precursor cell being the “stem cell” which can differentiate itself into various other cells as required and those cells are going to be matured into the B cells (matured in bone marrow), T cells (matured in thymus gland), and natural killer cells (NKC). The stem cell can also differentiate into other immune cells – monocytes and granulocytes which can further form as macrophages. The below schemata will explain you the major cells of immune system. Fig immune cells schemata.
The functions of immune system can be divided into natural and acquired based on the need for activation of the cells. The first line of defense against infectious agents being the “natural immunity or nonspecific immunity.” The mononuclear phagocytic cells and the NKC (natural killer cells) are the ones which do this. This combat is a bit complicated with a long series of events, explanation of which is beyond this article. But we need to know that various chemicals are involved in this combat resulting the death of the pathogens which include but not limited to tumor necrotizing factor (TNF), Interlukin-1 (IL-1) to Interlukin-6 (IL-6). The second line of defense, as generally the bigger cells getting into action, will start once the need for specific antibody arises, and is called the “acquired immunity or specific immunity.” This is accomplished by the most specialized and evolved cells the “T cells “ and “B cells”. The recognition of the specific pathogens is done by the specific cells called the “antigens” produced by the pathogens on their death or may even be present on the cell walls. These are chemically recognized and are combated by the specialized immune cells and so are also called as “antibodies.” Again the schema of the combat is a bit complicated making me unable to go beyond in this article. As per the basic requirement let us know some the mediators in this vital combat. The process of recognition starts by demarcating the “major histocompatible molecules (MHC)” on the cell surfaces of the pathogens as done by the T cells which can differentiate itself into varied cells types by its surface molecule, called “clusters of differentiation (CD)”. This CD is seen in various forms ranging from CD2 to CD71 in which few are only commonly identified. The major important differentiation of T cells will be CD4 and CD8, which causes the major damage to the pathogen cells. (Of note these are the forms that are lacked in acquired immune deficiency syndrome, AIDS). The other important cells, B cells will further differentiate into “Immunoglobulins (Ig)” and the types are IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, and IgD. These are the ones that are generally seen in allergic reactions. This is how the combat between the pathogens (disease causing agents) and our cells will go on. Last but not least, the descendants of B cells or T cells will become memory cells which may live for many years and provide us immediate and robust immunity to those specific antigens if attacked again. This phenomenon is used in “vaccinations”, where in you generate memory cells towards specific pathogens and get protection for many years to come.
Connection of the Immune system with the Central Nervous System:
The information regarding nervous system is very robust and beyond the limit of this article. Recollect the basic science classes about nervous system explaining that the whole body is connected with nerve circuits from the brain to the parts or organs of the body and the organs in which the immune cells were born, developed, and matured i.e, bone marrow, lymph tissues, spleen etc are no exception. We also know that these circuits carry out the function of taking the impulses from the organs to the brain and vice versa. Based on this and many other functions one way of dividing nerves is into sympathetic and parasympathetic. And investigations showed that all these organs related to immune system are connected with sympathetic nerves which can either excite or control the growth and maturation of immune cells.
“Stress” the culprit, and Immune System:
Of late, we are hearing the word “Stress” as much as the word “disease” and it has been the subject of study for many. Stress became a part of human life. The effects are seen and discussed from a pregnant mother to the great old grandfather and is not excluding any stages of life neither the infant, childhood, teenage, adulthood, professional or career, to the old age. A detailed note on “Stress” would be coming soon. Many investigations had proved the strong relationship between “Stress” and the “Immune System”.
Animal Studies: Experiments of late 1960s to 70s indicated that “Stressors (stress causing agents or conditions)” like crowding, isolation, shock, etc increased the death rate of the animals from immune-linked diseases. And the depth of investigations went to the level of identifying which stressor would affect which immune cells function. Eg. Heat stress in mouse caused diminished hypersensitivity in the mouse, while isolation and exposure to noise has decreased the immune cells generation itself. All these experiments concluded that stress-induced psychological state of the animal would affect the immune system a lot.
Human Studies: This has been of great tougher research but is also one of the hot researches that are going on now. Studies till now suggested that stressors decrease the immune response both but quality and quantity. Some of the research points demonstrates this as the examination stress was decreasing number of T cells and antibody responses to hepatitis B in the study involving medical students of New York as well as caregivers to Alzheimer’s disease patients showed increased titers of herpes simplex. Many more experiments did demonstrate a strong link between stress and immune system.
All these studies show that there is strong relation between the immune system and Central Nervous System.
It is really fascinating to know the interactions of the immune system and central nervous systems as is also the current topic of research in occupational and social health as considered by many eminent researchers. To understand the relation of these two we need to know a little bit of basics regarding both. I will first make a brief outline of the overview of immune system followed by the interactions as would be preferred by most of the readers in Part-1. In Part- 2 we would try to understand the drastic effects these interactions between immune system and central nervous system can end up with. Finally, I would like to brief you how “HOMEOPATHY” can come at the rescue of the sufferer or the patient in Part-3.
PART-1
Let us start with developing an “Overview of immune system” in brief. Immune system is the one that is having the capacity to protect the body from the foreign pathogen invasions – as from various sources such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. This mission is accomplished through various mechanisms and is done at various levels by many types of immune cells. I think we all knew what happens when this system fails or comprises as seen in various disorders, among which the deadliest one as known to all by this century, AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).
The cells and tissues that constitute the immune system are derived from the bone marrow. The precursor cell being the “stem cell” which can differentiate itself into various other cells as required and those cells are going to be matured into the B cells (matured in bone marrow), T cells (matured in thymus gland), and natural killer cells (NKC). The stem cell can also differentiate into other immune cells – monocytes and granulocytes which can further form as macrophages. The below schemata will explain you the major cells of immune system. Fig immune cells schemata.
The functions of immune system can be divided into natural and acquired based on the need for activation of the cells. The first line of defense against infectious agents being the “natural immunity or nonspecific immunity.” The mononuclear phagocytic cells and the NKC (natural killer cells) are the ones which do this. This combat is a bit complicated with a long series of events, explanation of which is beyond this article. But we need to know that various chemicals are involved in this combat resulting the death of the pathogens which include but not limited to tumor necrotizing factor (TNF), Interlukin-1 (IL-1) to Interlukin-6 (IL-6). The second line of defense, as generally the bigger cells getting into action, will start once the need for specific antibody arises, and is called the “acquired immunity or specific immunity.” This is accomplished by the most specialized and evolved cells the “T cells “ and “B cells”. The recognition of the specific pathogens is done by the specific cells called the “antigens” produced by the pathogens on their death or may even be present on the cell walls. These are chemically recognized and are combated by the specialized immune cells and so are also called as “antibodies.” Again the schema of the combat is a bit complicated making me unable to go beyond in this article. As per the basic requirement let us know some the mediators in this vital combat. The process of recognition starts by demarcating the “major histocompatible molecules (MHC)” on the cell surfaces of the pathogens as done by the T cells which can differentiate itself into varied cells types by its surface molecule, called “clusters of differentiation (CD)”. This CD is seen in various forms ranging from CD2 to CD71 in which few are only commonly identified. The major important differentiation of T cells will be CD4 and CD8, which causes the major damage to the pathogen cells. (Of note these are the forms that are lacked in acquired immune deficiency syndrome, AIDS). The other important cells, B cells will further differentiate into “Immunoglobulins (Ig)” and the types are IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, and IgD. These are the ones that are generally seen in allergic reactions. This is how the combat between the pathogens (disease causing agents) and our cells will go on. Last but not least, the descendants of B cells or T cells will become memory cells which may live for many years and provide us immediate and robust immunity to those specific antigens if attacked again. This phenomenon is used in “vaccinations”, where in you generate memory cells towards specific pathogens and get protection for many years to come.
Connection of the Immune system with the Central Nervous System:
The information regarding nervous system is very robust and beyond the limit of this article. Recollect the basic science classes about nervous system explaining that the whole body is connected with nerve circuits from the brain to the parts or organs of the body and the organs in which the immune cells were born, developed, and matured i.e, bone marrow, lymph tissues, spleen etc are no exception. We also know that these circuits carry out the function of taking the impulses from the organs to the brain and vice versa. Based on this and many other functions one way of dividing nerves is into sympathetic and parasympathetic. And investigations showed that all these organs related to immune system are connected with sympathetic nerves which can either excite or control the growth and maturation of immune cells.
“Stress” the culprit, and Immune System:
Of late, we are hearing the word “Stress” as much as the word “disease” and it has been the subject of study for many. Stress became a part of human life. The effects are seen and discussed from a pregnant mother to the great old grandfather and is not excluding any stages of life neither the infant, childhood, teenage, adulthood, professional or career, to the old age. A detailed note on “Stress” would be coming soon. Many investigations had proved the strong relationship between “Stress” and the “Immune System”.
Animal Studies: Experiments of late 1960s to 70s indicated that “Stressors (stress causing agents or conditions)” like crowding, isolation, shock, etc increased the death rate of the animals from immune-linked diseases. And the depth of investigations went to the level of identifying which stressor would affect which immune cells function. Eg. Heat stress in mouse caused diminished hypersensitivity in the mouse, while isolation and exposure to noise has decreased the immune cells generation itself. All these experiments concluded that stress-induced psychological state of the animal would affect the immune system a lot.
Human Studies: This has been of great tougher research but is also one of the hot researches that are going on now. Studies till now suggested that stressors decrease the immune response both but quality and quantity. Some of the research points demonstrates this as the examination stress was decreasing number of T cells and antibody responses to hepatitis B in the study involving medical students of New York as well as caregivers to Alzheimer’s disease patients showed increased titers of herpes simplex. Many more experiments did demonstrate a strong link between stress and immune system.
All these studies show that there is strong relation between the immune system and Central Nervous System.
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