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Immune System

Immune System. Body Defenses. * Immune System is our first Line of defense. against malicious Invaders. * These Invaders, Viruses, Bacteria and Yeast ,. Range from Common and Mild, such as all. too familiar cold, to severe and life. threatening, e.g. HIV, Meningitis or. Tuberculosis.

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Immune System

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  1. Immune System

  2. Body Defenses * Immune System is our first Line of defense against malicious Invaders * These Invaders, Viruses, Bacteria and Yeast, Range from Common and Mild, such as all too familiar cold, to severe and life threatening, e.g. HIV, Meningitis or Tuberculosis * Activation of Immune System Triggers Cells - Leucocytes, Macrophages, Acute Phase Proteins → Travel to Site of Attack, to Identify, Kill and the remove Invading Pathogens → Responses helps to Combat Infection, Conserve Energy and Aid Repair, but when activated too much or for too long they can be very Damaging

  3. Brain and Defense Responses * Brain exhibits Array of local Immune and Inflammatory Responses, and indeed is important Controller of Immune System and of acute phase responses * The most important Signals are Group of proteins which came to light only in the last 20 years - known as Cytokines • Cytokines as Defense Molecules * Cytokines are normally produced in Body at very low Levels, but are switched on quickly in response to Disease or Injury(Cytokines include: Interferons, Interleukins, Tumour necrosis Factors and Chemokines) * Cytokines enter Blood Stream where they send Signals to distant Organs Including Brain * Important Regulator of Cytokines Production is Brain that, through Neural Signals to Tissues or Hormones, can switch Cytokines on or off

  4. Stress and Immune System * Precise Mechanisms responsible for Link between Stress and Immune system are not fully worked out, but we do know that important Feature is activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis * One of main responses to Stress in Brain is increased Production of Protein in Hypothalamus called Corticotrophin Releasing Factor(CRF) - CRF: Pituitary Gland → Hypothalamus(Short Distance), to release another Hormone, AdrenocotrophinReleasing Factor(ACTH) • Immune and Inflammatory responses within Brain * Cytokines are active contributors to Brain Diseases → Brain Disease seems that over Production of Molecules within Brain itself can Damage Neurons - Particularly → Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke and Alzheimer's, etc.

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