T -Cell & B -Cells
T- Cells come from the Thymus. T-Cells or T Lymphocytes are responsible for a portion of your adaptive immune system. This portion is known as cell mediated immunity. There are several different types of T-Cells. Regulatory T- Cells help to regulate your immune response. Cytotoxic T- Cells, “literally cell poison”, kill infected cells and release immune stimulating chemicals. Then you have Helper T-Cells. These T- Cells help activate the other parts of your adaptive immune system. You could say, these Helper T-Cells help the Cytotoxic T- Cells do there job. The last T-Cells we have is the Memory T- Cell.…
Natural Killer Cells
Natural Killer Cells are a type of lymphocyte.Natural Killer cells are a crude weapon for your immune system. They release chemicals to kill any cell displaying a foreign antigen. This could be a pathogen or your own bodies infected cells. Natural Killer Cells take out the neighborhood. These cells patrol your body, wiping out any infected cells they encounter. Natural Killer Cells are a part of you adaptive immune system. Health Tips to Keep Natural Killer Cells Healthy: Vitamin E and Zine Use herbs like Echinacea and Ginseng Walking in nature for up to an hour See links below White…
Dendritic Cells
Dendritic Cells are a member of a group of cells that are modified monocytes. Dendritic cells have an important job as antigen-presenting cells. These cells are able to ingest foreign antigens and place the foreign antigen into there own cellular membranes. Dendritic Cells display these foreign antigens as they look for the lymphocytes that match’s the antigen. The APC or antigen presenting cell is a red flag that alerts your adaptive immune system to respond. Dendritic cells are a bridge between your innate and adaptive immune system. Dendritic cells are part of your innate immune system. Health Tips to Keep…
Eosinophils
Eosconophils are granuolcytes that move to the inflamed areas in the body.Eosinophils participate in allergic reactions, the killing of parasites and the modulate inflammatory response.Like Basphils, Eosinophils are generally low in the blood stream unless an active infection or allergen is present in the body. Eosconophils are part of your innate immune system. Health Tips to Keep Eosinophils Healthy: See links below White Blood Cells Blog Post Neutrophils Blog Post
Basophils and Mast Cells
Mast Cells and Basophils release chemicals to promote inflammation.Mast Cells are found stationed throughout the body, and are found in the connective tissues. For example, “when the mast cells in the connective tissue of the nose are stimulated and chemicals are then released it can lead to rhinitis”. This is commonly known as a runny nose. Basophils are granuocytes that enter infected tissues from the blood stream.The number of Basophils in the body are usually low unless there is an active infection present in the body. Mast Cells and Basophils Cells are a part of your innate immunity. Health Tips…
Macrophages
Macrophages are modified monocytes and a type of granulocyte. Macrophages can leave the blood stream and enter tissues and organs of the body. Macrophages are active in the later stages of an infection. Macrophages release chemicals to stimulate the immune system. Macrophages are phogocytic cells. This means Macrophages act as an antigen-presenting cell. They wear the antigen of the pathogens on the outside of their membranes. This stimulates the adaptive immune system. Macrophages also help to accumulate damaged or dead cells. Macrophages are a part of your innate immune system. Health Tips to Keep Macrophages Healthy: See links below White…
Neutrophils
The first white blood cells that I am going to talk about is the Neutrophils.Neutrophils originate in the bone marrow. They are the first cells to arrive at a site that has been damaged. Neutrophils are the most common leukocyte, “i.e. white blood cells” in the blood stream. Neutrophils are granulocytes whose function is phagocytosis. Phagocytosis cells use there plasma membranes to ingest bacteria or cellar debris. At a site that is damaged the Neutrophils immediately begin to clean up the area by ingesting pathogens. They release chemicals that temporarily increase tissue damage and inflammation. By doing this they help…
White Blood Cells “Leukocytes”
White blood cells form inside the bone marrow just like red blood cells and platelets. They then move to other parts of the body to grow and mature until they are needed.Our white blood cells are generally not released into the blood stream in large numbers, unless an infection is present in the body.When sicknesses invade the body through a cut, our eyes, nose, mouth, or other orifices,“our white blood cells defend our bodies against said invaders”. White blood cells/leukocytes are divided into two groups. The first group is polymorphonuclear granulocytes. These are cells with granules or spots in their…
Red Blood Cells “Erythrocytes”
Our red blood cells are created by the red bone marrow in a process called hemopoiesis. Hemopoiesis is the process by which blood cells are made in the bone marrow. Red bone marrow is also called myeloid tissue. The lifespan of a red blood cell is 120 days. Red blood cells are filtered out of circulation by the liver and spleen once they are no longer useful. Red blood cells are a big part of what makes up the blood which contain red pigment called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is red do to iron and aids in the transportation of oxygen and…
Immune System 101
Our immune system is so important. Our immune system is what protects use from viruses and bacteria that enter our bodies through the skin, nose, eyes and mouth. This is going to be a blog series, were in each post we will learn about one immune cell in detail. We will learn what the cell does for our body and our immune system. I will also share a few holistic health tips that can help each of these cells. There are two main classes of the immune system. The innate immune system and the adaptive immune system or acquired immune…
Immune System Support Tips
With cold and flu season starting we need to start supporting our immune systems. To do so, we are more likely not to get sick. By supporting our immune systems, “if we do get sick,” our immune systems have what they need to help fight off the infection. Our immune system is very important. Our immune system helps to fight off any virus or bacteria that comes into our body’s through our nose, skin, eyes, throat and ears. When our immune system is low or not supported, we are not able to fight off the infections that come into our…