The last article described viruses and explained their effects on the human organism. This blog post deals with our immune system and how it keeps our body healthy. Some of these mechanisms are already given to us at birth, another part of the body's own defence system has to be learned by our organism. With the right lifestyle we can strengthen our immune system.
What exactly is the immune system?
The body's own defence system prevents or impedes the entry of pathogens. Intruders, foreign cells, foreign substances, defective body cells (e.g. cancer cells) and virus-infected cells are eliminated. The immune system is very complex and consists of various components and mechanisms1.
Non-specific immune defence - The innate resistance to pathogens
Non-specific defence means all innate mechanisms that protect the body. As the word "unspecific" implies, it is a system that filters rather superficially and is not specialized for certain pathogens.
Chemical and mechanical barriers ensure that many potential pathogens cannot even enter our body. Our skin surface is both a mechanical barrier and a chemical one, as it has a natural acid mantle and is covered by microorganisms that repel foreign substances and organisms. It is similar with our mucous membranes.
With its low PH value, gastric acid ensures that potential pathogens that reach the digestive tract via food are destroyed. The tear fluid of our eyes contains lysozymes that can dissolve bacterial walls. The cilia in our airways trap larger particles from the environment (such as fine dust) and transport them back outside. Coughing and sneezing support this. Diarrhoea and vomiting are also defence mechanisms that transport undesirable substances out again1.
On a cellular level, it appears that we have white blood cells that are part of our immune system right from the start. They divide into different types, important for the immune system are the B-cells, which include the following subgroups: The scavenger cells remove residuals of bacteria and dead cells, like a crumb monster that eats disturbing crumbs. The T killer cells destroy infected cells so that they cannot infect others2.
From the biological perspective, we also speak of the humoral level, which refers to our bodily fluids. Proteins contained in them bind to potential pathogens and are activated. The mechanisms already mentioned, such as gastric juice, tear fluid and its enzymes or mucus from the airways are part of this. Inflammatory reactions are typical in order to fend off foreign substances. During an inflammation, the veins are dilated to make the tissue more permeable. In this way, the enzymes and proteins can mark the potential pathogens and attract the macrophages, which then eliminate the foreign substances.
Specific immune defence – the acquired immunity against pathogens
In contrast to the unspecific immune system, the specific immune system must first acquire its abilities. When the innate defence mechanisms have failed, the specific immune defence sets in. This is because not all pathogens can be detected or kept away so quickly. The smaller the pathogenic invaders, the greater the challenge for the immune system. Viruses in particular usually find a way to cross our barriers and enter the organism1.
The pathogens must then be detected in the lymphatic system according to the try and error system. This works in such a way that in the lymphatic organs and in the lymphatic streams many of the above mentioned white blood cells are floating around at any time. These T cells and B cells have special receptors, the antibodies, on their surface. These all have different structures, each of them waiting for an antigen of a pathogen to come and bind to them. This works on the lock and key principle. The receptors on the lymphocytes represent the lock and a key in the form of the pathogen floats around until it has found its lock and unlocks it or is bound to the respective defence cell.
Again, there is a cellular and a humoral level: viruses in particular attack body cells. The infected cells are then recognised on their surface by the immune system and destroyed by T-killer cells. Viruses, but also toxins and bacteria, are again of importance on the humoral level. The same key-lock principle is used in the blood and in the lymphs, only that these are slightly different cells. But even these cells have their antibodies on their surface. So in the end, intruders can be killed and eliminated by the scavenger cells as in the case of the unspecific defence2.
Immunity arises after an initial infection has been successfully combated
As soon as the immune system has identified which cell has the right antibody to bind to the pathogen, it starts to multiply this cell. With the help of the defence cell army that is created, the respective viruses or bacteria can be destroyed on a large scale. Smaller helper cells are also involved in this process, which subsequently develop into so-called memory cells. After fighting, these are our data memory, where an already known pathogen can be eliminated much faster in the case of a new infection. It is obvious that the process takes longer and longer with an initial infection and can therefore often lead to symptoms of disease. In the specific defence, one speaks of immunity when the body has set up this very memory and will not fall ill again if the same pathogen appears again2.
However, the whole thing is relatively complex and especially flu viruses often change a little bit, so that our body no longer recognizes the mutated virus and the process just described must be repeated.
Fever – an intelligent and important mechanism of our immune system
When our immune system is activated, our body uses energy to raise our temperature. When we are ill or feel symptoms, we often have a fever. This is often the case, especially with diseases caused by viruses. The increased temperature has a benefit for the immune system: although it usually does not kill off germs, it does accelerate the excretion of toxins that remain with the immune processes. Antipyretic drugs are therefore counterproductive, as they can hinder the work of the immune system. Of course, this must always be weighed up individually, because high fever temperatures such as 42⁰ C can be life-threatening, but there is usually no danger under 40⁰ C2.
Is our immune system strengthened by physical regeneration?
The most important thing that keeps us healthy is the balance between the activity of our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. If the body is in the sympathetic nervous system, it is ready to perform, focused and rather under tension. For this purpose, the corresponding hormones or neurotransmitters are released, which give the body the signals that it must prepare itself for active and rather strenuous tasks. In this state, for example, the digestion but also repair processes of the cells are reduced. These procedures are active again as soon as the body is in the relaxation and regeneration mode, namely in the parasympathetic nervous system. This allows the organs that release stress and activation hormones to recover and the organism focuses on the things that promote our health and replenish our memory3.
So it is obvious how important it is that we are regularly in this regeneration mode:
The actions of our immune system described above are mainly active in the parasympathetic state. However, if our body is constantly under stress, be it mentally or physically, many phases are missing in which precisely these processes can take place.
How can the parasympathetic nervous system be used to promote the immune system?
- Short and intensive sports units cause our body to switch to the parasympathetic nervous system immediately after training. After physical exertion it gets the right signals that it now needs to recover. Read more about this here!
- Intestinal health is an important factor that supports our immune system. On the one hand, because the intestinal mucosa, as described at the beginning, is a chemical and mechanical barrier that directly protects us from pathogens. On the other hand, because a chronically inflamed intestinal mucosa again means stress and constant inflammatory reactions. We digest mainly in the parasympathetic nervous system and the renewal and regeneration of the cells also happens in this state. You can find more about intestinal health and the leaky gut syndorme in this artiicle!
- The right nutrients give our cells important signals; nutrition is therefore of far greater importance to our body than just providing energy. The most common potential allergens, such as cow's milk, gluten-containing cereals and soya, but also sugar, can trigger chronic inflammation in us. These lead to our immune system constantly concentrating on them instead of being able to protect us from real pathogens. The immune system is therefore weakened.
- Protein, essential fatty acids and micronutrients such as zinc, vitamin D3, vitamin C and antioxidants sustainably maintain our cells while protecting them. If these are all present in the body, the immune cells are also strengthened. So it makes sense to adopt a diet in which a lot of vegetables, high-quality protein sources and healthy fats are consumed. Read more about breakfast & fats!
- Our mindset has a decisive influence on how we deal with external stressors. If you learn to deal with them correctly and to think positively, you support the regeneration of the organism. Simple and short daily routines such as keeping a gratitude diary or yoga and meditation units promote a positive mindset and thus also the regular switching to the parasympathetic nervous system. More about this topic here!
Conclusion:
Our immune system consists of an innate and learned system. It can fight off pathogens and must sometimes activate inflammatory processes in the body and raise body temperature to eliminate invaders as efficiently as possible. We can actively support these processes through a healthy lifestyle by getting enough exercise, consuming the right foods and integrating conscious relaxation phases into our daily lives.
1 Bütikofer, Markus; Hopf, Zensi; Rutz, Guido; Stach, Silke und Grigoleit, Andrea (2015): Humanbiologie 1: Grundlagen, Stoffwechsel und Abwehrsysteme. Zürich: Compendio Bildungsmedien. S. 134-188.
2 Zschokke, Samuel (2018): Humanbiologie I: Anatomie und Physiologie – Krankheitsabwehr Immunsystem. Basel: Universität Basel.
3 Fiedler, Annett (2019): Der Parasympathikus-Schutzpatron für die Gesundheit.
[https://beradent.com/der-parasympathikus-schutzpatron-fuer-die-gesundheit; 14.04.2020]
