The immune system is our internal battalion. However, while it can protect us from a myriad of foes, it can also become an enemy. Autoimmune conditions are examples of immune systems gone rogue. We need an immune system that is vigilant and decisive without overreacting.
The recent health care crisis has made us familiar with the term cytokine storm. Cytokines are the hormones of the immune system. They are the chemical messengers that elicit action and response. There are cytokines that promote inflammation and cell death—which may sound like an odd function for a healthy immune system, but they have their place. Out of place, however, pro-inflammatory cytokines play a role in diagnoses such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and dementia.
Our immune system also produces anti-inflammatory cytokines, which keep the cytokine family balanced. A cytokine storm occurs when “the body releases too many cytokines into the blood too quickly. Cytokines play an important role in normal immune responses, but having a large amount of them released in the body all at once can be harmful. A cytokine storm can occur as a result of an infection…. Signs and symptoms include high fever, inflammation… severe fatigue and nausea. Sometimes, a cytokine storm may be severe or life threatening and lead to multiple organ failure.”1
A cytokine storm is a dangerous overreaction of the immune system. In some situations “the immune system keeps raging long after the virus is no longer a threat. It continues to release cytokines that keep the body on an exhausting full alert. In their misguided bid to keep the body safe, these cytokines attack multiple organs including the lungs and liver, and may eventually lead to death…. In these people, it’s their body’s response, rather than the virus, that ultimately causes harm. Cytokine storms can overtake people of any age, but some scientists believe that they may explain why healthy young people died during the 1918 pandemic and more recently during the SARS, MERS and H1N1 epidemics.”2 The immune system launches its attack against the virus, but in some cases, goes overboard.
Making sure the immune system doesn’t overreact is vital to health. One company of the T cell division of our internal military is the regulatory T cells, or T regs for short. These cells regulate our immunity, preventing a hyper-immune response and inhibiting cytokine production. They provide balance between disease-causing microbes and the risk of developing autoimmunity or overwhelming inflammation. They play a crucial role in balancing two arms of the immune system.
So, how can we support healthy T reg function?
– Maintaining a healthy weight is important, as excess abdominal fat impacts immunity and circulating T regs.3
– Sufficient levels of vitamin D from adequate sunshine exposure or supplementation are crucial to optimal T reg status. Higher levels of vitamin D are thought to play a role in promoting anti-inflammatory functions, including increasing the number and/or function of T regs.4
– Studies have also found vitamin A deficiency to factor in to imbalanced immune responses. A positive correlation has been observed between vitamin A and T regs—meaning the more serum vitamin A, the more T reg population.
– Polyphenols are micronutrients that have been shown to dampen the inflammatory response and promote T reg cells. They’re found in fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. Increasing our intake of these foods supports healthy immunity in multiple ways.
– Our gut flora, aka microbiota, has a profound effect on the immune system and T regs. Intimate communication goes on between the gut flora and the immune system. Experimentation with various strains of supplemental probiotics has resulted in modulating numbers and activity of T regs.5 Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are by-products of the gut bacteria, and a healthy, diverse gut flora produces these beneficial substances. SCFAs enhance the expression of T reg cells. In contrast, antibiotics can result in a reduction of T regs.6
We have not been left helpless. God’s promises are more powerful than life or death—or any virus. “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed….” Lamentations 3:22.
1. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/797584
2. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/health/coronavirus-cytokine-storm-immune-system.html
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23592653
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6759203
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3276397/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.00253/full
