Cytokines are chemical messengers that control immune responses. They are secreted by white blood cells, T cells, epithelial cells and some other body cells. There are at least 17 different kinds of interleuken and 3 classes of interferon called alpha, beta and gamma and various subsets. Interleukens and interferons are called “cytokines” and there are two general groupings, Th1 and Th2. Th1 (T-cell Helper type 1) promote cell-mediated immunity (CMI) while Th2 (T-cell Helper type 2) induce humoral immunity (antibodies). Also: Cytokine, TH1, TH2

	Beta 1,3 Glucan As A Treatment "...Release of important cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-2 among others, initiating immune cascade and triggering other cell lines, such as T-cells..." Bone Cancer The Condition "...Cancer cells stimulate bone destruction which in turn releases cytokines or growth factors that stimulate cancer cell growth..." Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome Relationship to Immune System Imbalance (TH2 Dominance) "CFS patients are Th2 activated..." Colds and Influenza Recommendation Elderberry / Sambucol "By increasing inflammatory cytokine production, black elderberry extract may be beneficial to immune system activation and in the inflammatory process in healthy individuals or in patients with various diseases..." Hepatitis Relationship to Immune System Imbalance (TH2 Dominance) "It has been suggested that an impaired TH1 immune response appears to favor chronicity of hepatitis C infections..." HIV/AIDS Relationship to Immune System Imbalance (TH2 Dominance) "In HIV progression to AIDS, there is a shift from Th1 (cellular immunity) to the less effective Th2 (humoral immunity)..." Immune System Imbalance (TH2 Dominance) The Condition "The quality of an individual's immune system can be evaluated through the balance of cytokines it is producing..." Recommendation Probiotics "The specific bacteria that that help balance a TH2 dominant immune system are..." Recommendation Colostrum / Transfer Factor "Transfer factor may help to rebalance a TH2 dominant Immune system..." Recommendation Chlorella "Chlorella increases TH1 cytokines to help balance the immune system..." Recommendation Garlic "Garlic, raw or aged extract, promotes TH1 cytokines to help balance the immune system..." Recommendation Ginkgo Biloba "...Elevated cortisol levels have a suppressing effect on TH1 cytokines..." Recommendation L-Glutathione "Glutathione levels in antigen-presenting cells determine whether Th1 or Th2 response patterns predominate [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1998 Mar 17;95(6): pp..." Recommendation IP6 - Inositol Hexaphosphate "IP6 - found in brown rice and corn and extracted as a commercial product - promotes NK function and thus helps balance a TH2 dominant immune system..." Recommendation LDN - Low Dose Naltrexone "Low doses of Naltrexone can help reduce TH2 cytokines to assist in balancing the immune system..." Recommendation DHEA "DHEA increases TH1 cytokines which help balance the immune system..." Recommendation MGN-3 "...It stimulates NK function and thus helps balance a TH2 dominant immune system..." Recommendation Monounsaturated Oils "Oils such as olive, hazelnut, coconut can enhance TH1 cytokines which help balance the immune system..." Recommendation Thymic Factors "Thymic factors highly refined or crudely extracted help balance a TH2 dominant immune system by increasing IL-2 and T cell counts..." Recommendation Thyroid Medications "Thyroxine (T4) found in Synthroid and desiccated thyroid is a thyroid hormone that increases TH1 cytokines to help balance the immune system..." Recommendation Vitamin E "Vitamin E increases TH1 cytokines, which help balance a TH2 dominant immune system..." Recommendation Neem "Neem can help balance a TH2 dominant immune system..." Low T-Helper (CD4) Cell Level The Condition "...Each cytokine regulates a different set of cells, suppressing the growth of some and stimulating the growth of others..." Poor/Slow Wound Healing The Condition "...There is hope that we are on the eve of learning how to manipulate growth factors, as well as cytokines, to control wound healing, improving function and aesthetics..." Soil Based Organisms As A Treatment "...SBOs cause a favorable shift in the TH1/TH2 balance..." Thymic Factors As A Treatment "...This gland secretes special chemicals called cytokines (i..." TMG (Tri-methyl-glycine) As A Treatment "...Applications include ... Immune modulation: Improves antibody response, enhances B- and T-cell function, and regulates cytokines..." Weakened Immune System The Condition "...These cells often depend on the T-helper subset for activation signals in the form of secretions formally known as cytokines, lymphokines, or more specifically interleukins..." Recommendation Elderberry / Sambucol "...Infected cells produce interferons and other cytokines (soluble components that are largely responsible for regulating the immune response to viruses), which can signal adjacent uninfected cells to mount their defenses, enabling uninfected cells..."

Last updated: Oct 08, 2008