Q & A on the immune system

Q: What does "immune system" mean and what is it?
A: The concept of the immune system can best be described as the "system of insensitivity": or "insensitivity organ."It is responsible for the body�s successful defense against invaders like viruses, bacteria and parasites. It is the immune system's duty to kill viruses and toxins as well as adjust to changing environmental factors.

Q: Where is the immune system located?
A: The immune system is equipped with several "headquarters" like certain parts of the intestinal wall, the spleen and of course the lymph glands; the thymus gland is important only for the young body. But damaging influences can attack the organisms for many different areas of our body, for example through the skin or the intestines. Tumor cells can occur all over the body. In fact, the immune system is really spread all over the body. This is in sync with the systemic concept - as the term immune system signifies - when many different components cooperate synergistically.

Q: 'System' signifies that many different components cooperate. Which are those in the case of the immune system?
A: Simplified, we can distinguish between the specific and the nonspecific immune system. Part of the specific immune system are the different antibodies which are produced by the so-called B cells or B lymphocytes, the proteins that form a part of the complement cascade as well as the courier substances through which the immune cells communicate like the tumor necrosis factor as well as interleukin and interferon. The specific immune system is composed of the large voracious macrophages (large white blood cells) and monocytes, the small granulocytes, the natural killer cells and, of course, the T lymphocytes.

Q: In which stage of the body's development is the immune system most effective?
A: Besides the inborn, non specific defense, which is carried out mainly by the macrophages and the complement cascade, a specific defense is developed during various stages of development. The young human has to struggle with a wide variety of germs and viruses (children's illnesses) during which the immune system develops a knowledge of how to fight those invaders and stores the specific information. This learning process is possible even when the human is older, an adult. It is possible to build up a specific reaction of the immune system with vaccinations against such different, usually rare and dangerous, infectious diseases. When fully grown and between the 20th and 30th birthdays, the organism has reached its full potential and the immune system reaches its peak in those years as well. Women�s bodies, including their immune systems, usually mature 3-5 years earlier than those of men.
The effectiveness of the immune system slowly declines as a result of the physiological process of aging. But we can strengthen our immune system and slow down the natural process of waning immune power with the help of a balanced diet with enzymes, vitamins and minerals and by avoiding stress, alcohol, nicotine and other poisonous stimulants.

Q: What kind of illnesses can occur if the immune system does not function properly?
A: Here are three main groups which must be mentioned:
# The immune system can't fight the agent (virus, bacteria, disease) because it is camouflaged or occurs in too vast a number. This applies to toxins as well, and a heavy constant dose of toxins with a continuing strain of the body's defense mechanism can lead to irreversible damage of the immune system.
# The immune system misinterprets body tissue as foreign and attacks itself as a result. With a hereditary disposition, ordinary bacteria and germs can trigger such an autoimmune disease, as their markers are similar to certain cells in the body. The immune system can not distinguish between them and begins to destroy certain of the body's own organs. (e.g. nerves in multiple sclerosis, cartilage of other organs with rheumatic conditions.)
# If the immune system is too weak, and subsequently its response is weak, the body can literally be overrun by germs, viruses or tumor cells. As you can now easily imagine, the immune system is involved in fighting any kind of disturbance in the organism. However, it is pretty amazing how seldom we become ill considering the massive amount of viruses and toxins we have to cope with every day. This is obvious evidence of the effectiveness of the immune system.

Q: Do hormones have any effect on the immune system?
A: Hormones are messenger substances like the above mentioned zytokines. They influence a great number of cells and subsequently have an effect on the metabolism and the immune system. This becomes evident with some women who are more prone to infections during their menstrual cycle. We know of a number of hormones, for example the thyroid gland hormone thyroxine, which stimulates the metabolism and thus has a direct influence on the immune system.

Q: What influence do vitamins have on the immune system and which have an impact?
A: Vitamins are substances which our bodies cannot produce, so we have to supplement with the nutrition. During times of greater strain on the organism and the immune system, the system "consumes" more vitamins. Clearly identifiable vitamin deficiencies with severe symptoms (e.g. scurvy as a result of vitamin C deficiency among sailors) has practically vanished in the industrialized nations as a result of adequate nutritional intake. But our modern lifestyle with increased alcohol consumption, exposure to toxins and resilient germs, and the rise of chronic ailments often lead to a clandestine vitamin deficiency without clear symptoms - such a hidden deficiency is very difficult to diagnose. As a result, I feel that supplementing the diet with vitamins - which specific ones depending on one�s lifestyle is highly recommended. To do this, one should consult an experienced physician. Of primary importance are Vitamins C, A, E, B1, B6 and Vitamin D.

Q: Are enzymes able to influence the immune system as well and if so, how?
A: Enzymes - and modern immunoenzymology estimates 50,000 different ones to be active with various responsibilities in the human body - enable the smooth functioning of the whole metabolism and, consequently, reinforce the activity of the immune system as well. Proteolytic enzymes, which can be administered orally, support the immune system in various stages. As a rule, enzymes contribute significantly to the balance within the immune system and are a powerful aid to putting a troubled immune system back in balance. Especially in times of particular stress and as a precaution I the transitional periods of spring and autumn, taking systemic enzymes in combination with vitamins and minerals is highly recommended.

For more information please contact Tobias Ernst, public relations manager for the Swiss company called Dr. D�nner at 212/244-4752 or write to him at 350 Fifth Avenue, Empire State Building, Suite 3304, New York, NY 100118.