Your Immune System and Immune response

Immune response is how the immune mechanisms in your body respond to foreign and or potentially dangerous substances that enter the body. The immune system recognizes antigens, which are usually proteins. These antigens can be found in bacteria, fungi, or viruses and are found on the surface of cells. They can also be found in drugs (even prescription drugs), other chemicals and other foreign objects, such as particles entering the body though a cut. Antigens may also enter the body through the nasal passage, the digestive system, or permeate the skin (without being a cut or by accidental injury).

Depending on where the offender enters your body, the body may trigger more mucus to be secreted, mucusol surfaces create antibodies called IGA, the body may trigger a cough or a sneeze, the stomach may produce more acid. The digestive, respiratory, and and urogenital pathways are lined with tightly packed epithelial cells which are covered by a layer of mucus. The next defense under the epithelial layer is another layer of cells that include T cells, B cells, and macrophages to defend against germs that might pass the first layer of defense.

The more common infecters would include parasites, bacteria and viruses. The mangosteen fruit naturally has properties which are anti-virus, anti-parasitic, and anti-bacterial. The majority of bacteria live in spaces between cells, all parasites and viruses, and some bacteria must enter a cell to cause harm and to survive. All of these have different tactics to cause harm. The aforementioned use MHC molecules to push these invaders back to the surface of cells where cytotoxic T lymphocytes can attack and destroy the offenders. Antibodies can help aid in immune response by clearing viruses before they can actually enter the cell. Our T and B cells can become “memory cells”, once they have successfully thwarted an attack, they are ready for the next similar attack and know how to respond. It is now a well known fact that repeated use of some prescription antibiotics can weaken the body’s own immune system over time.

For example, tetracycline was once widely prescribed for treatment of acne, but to what ultimate cost to the immune system? How well our immune system functions can also be genetic, unfortunately as in the case of AIDS, where the infected mother gives birth and passes along the virus. The mangosteen fruit shows good potential to help modulate the immune system by attacking viruses, bacteria and parasites, and many other things.

The next few years should prove interesting for mangosteen, I myself am waiting for some more solid published clinical trials, on how the fruit benefits your immune system and it’s response. I am under advisement that there are some are on the way.

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