| Balance is crucial for a healthy immune system. A | | | | large signaling network that have additive, inhibitory, |
| variety of stressors such as bacteria, parasites, | | | | and synergistic effects. |
| pollutants, strong emotions, and improper diet, can | | | | The most important immune functions are carried out |
| cause the immune system to become imbalanced. If | | | | by groups of cytokines that are known as interleukin |
| the immune system is weakened then it is less able | | | | 1 and 2, interferons, and tumor necrosis factor. They |
| to fight against invading antigens. Disorders and | | | | help to modulate the immune system when the |
| reactions such as allergies, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, | | | | tissue is being threatened or damaged. Interleukin 1 |
| fibromyalgia, lupus, Crohn's disease and diabetes can | | | | helps to protect against the effects of radiation and |
| also occur if the immune system is overactive and | | | | encourage the growth of immune cells, while tumor |
| begins to fight against itself. However, if the immune | | | | necrosis factor is produced in response to bacteria |
| system is healthy and balanced, the body will be | | | | and other disease-causing agents. Additionally, tumor |
| protected and healed from foreign invaders. But if | | | | necrosis factor also promotes the production of |
| the immune system is under active or | | | | more cytokines. Tumor necrosis factor also has |
| non-responsive, it is susceptible to infection, illness, | | | | anti-tumor properties which increases the activity of |
| and emotional distress. By supplementing with natural | | | | other cells that fight tumors and also affects the |
| immune modulators, the immune system can achieve | | | | blood system in tumors. It also effectively helps to |
| and maintain optimum balance. | | | | slow down or reverse tumor growth by starving |
| Cytokines consist of a variety of multifunctional | | | | cancer cells of the nutrients they need and reducing |
| molecules which work to regulate and control the | | | | blood flow. |
| body's defense system. These biomolecules are | | | | Researchers are currently looking at treating various |
| crucial for optimal immune function as they play a | | | | disorders with cytokines because it is clear that |
| key role in immunity, infectious disease, blood | | | | cytokines link the immune system to other |
| production, tissue repair, and cellular development and | | | | physiological systems. Because of the intricate |
| growth. Cytokines actually play an important role in a | | | | network of the cytokine processes, many |
| variety of body functions, ranging from general | | | | researchers believe that the treatment of various |
| maintenance and the regulation of inflammatory | | | | immune disorders could potentially require a |
| responses to the direct interference of invading | | | | combination of immuno-regulatory factors. Many |
| pathogens. | | | | scientists are trying to recombining cytokines; |
| Cytokines are also important messengers that are | | | | however it is extremely limited because they are |
| used by the immune system to inform the rest of | | | | extremely expensive; they may be toxic and cause |
| the body that an infection has been discovered. Any | | | | symptoms such as fever, muscle aches and fatigue; |
| immune system imbalance can lead to interference | | | | and they may create imbalances in the patient that |
| between cytokines and proper body function. | | | | would not benefit them. |
| Different cytokines have different actions on the | | | | As a result of these facts, researchers are turning |
| same cell. However, there is a large degree of | | | | their attention to a natural immune modulator such as |
| overlap between the actions of one cytokine and | | | | hyperimmune egg and colostrum. Hyperimmune egg |
| another. Cytokines have been given a variety of | | | | and colostrum can stimulate the production and |
| names throughout the years including chemokines, | | | | activities of powerful immune agents and jump-start |
| monokines, interferons, interleukins, lymphotoxins, | | | | the body's own defense system, instead of having |
| lymphokines, and leukokines. Cytokines are part of | | | | to rely on drugs to fight invading pathogens. |