Inflammation, Immune System & Chronic Disease

Inflammation, Immune System & Chronic Disease

Underlying many different diseases and conditions is the process of inflammation.

This process connects conditions as varied as cancer, infections, heart disease, and autoimmune diseases.

Understanding more about inflammation and its effects on the body may help us understand more about these conditions - and treat them more effectively.

Of particular interest is the effect of inflammation on the immune system.

What happens during the inflammation process?

Inflammation is the natural biological response of the body to stimuli such as pathogens, irritants, and damaged cells. These are all perceived by the body to be harmful.

The immune system kicks in and acute inflammation starts to repair damaged tissues. This usually results in dilation of the capillaries, redness, heat, pain and swelling.

If this response is prolonged, it is termed ‘chronic’ inflammation. This is potentially dangerous and can lead to severe tissue damage and disease.

The inflammation can, in fact, become a “disease process” itself and result in disorders such as asthma, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory bowel syndrome to name just a few.

These conditions are often related to more serious chronic conditions such as heart disease, liver disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and cancer: some of the leading causes of death in the world today.

Increasingly, these diseases are considered “inflammatory” diseases.

Immunosuppression and its consequences

In 2012, scientists in Israel studied the connection between inflammation and suppression of the immune system. They noted:

“At a certain stage of each of these diseases, while the chronic inflammation proceeds, some key players of the immune system become immunosuppressed as natural killer (NK) cells and T cells.”

Furthermore, their findings led the scientists to question some of the conventional medical approaches taken towards treating the major “inflammatory” chronic diseases:

“A substantial body of evidence supports the notion that the development of a suppressive environment during chronic inflammation limits the success of immune-based and conventional therapies, skewing the balance in favor of a developing pathology.”

The body’s natural defence mechanism (inflammation) actually creates the conditions where pathological processes, such as those found in cancer and other chronic diseases, are able to develop.

This suggests that we need to reconsider approaches to intervening in these diseases:

“…appropriate, well-designed and fine-tuned immune interventions that could resolve inflammatory responses and associated immunosuppression could enhance disease regression and reinforce successful responses to a given therapy.”

With more research, this could open up new avenues in the fight against chronic disease. Meanwhile, it should also get us thinking about ways in which we can discourage inflammatory responses in the body - through diet, exercise, and other lifestyle choices.

 

References:

Kanterman J, et al. New insights into chronic inflammation-induced immunosuppression. Semin Cancer Biol (2012), doi:10.1016/j.semcancer.2012.02.008

Inflammation, Immune System & Chronic Disease

Underlying many different diseases and conditions is the process of inflammation.

This process connects conditions as varied as cancer, infections, heart disease, and autoimmune diseases.

Understanding more about inflammation and its effects on the body may help us understand more about these conditions - and treat them more effectively.

Of particular interest is the effect of inflammation on the immune system.

What happens during the inflammation process?

Inflammation is the natural biological response of the body to stimuli such as pathogens, irritants, and damaged cells. These are all perceived by the body to be harmful.

The immune system kicks in and acute inflammation starts to repair damaged tissues. This usually results in dilation of the capillaries, redness, heat, pain and swelling.

If this response is prolonged, it is termed ‘chronic’ inflammation. This is potentially dangerous and can lead to severe tissue damage and disease.

The inflammation can, in fact, become a “disease process” itself and result in disorders such as asthma, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory bowel syndrome to name just a few.

These conditions are often related to more serious chronic conditions such as heart disease, liver disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and cancer: some of the leading causes of death in the world today.

Increasingly, these diseases are considered “inflammatory” diseases.

Immunosuppression and its consequences

In 2012, scientists in Israel studied the connection between inflammation and suppression of the immune system. They noted:

“At a certain stage of each of these diseases, while the chronic inflammation proceeds, some key players of the immune system become immunosuppressed as natural killer (NK) cells and T cells.”

Furthermore, their findings led the scientists to question some of the conventional medical approaches taken towards treating the major “inflammatory” chronic diseases:

“A substantial body of evidence supports the notion that the development of a suppressive environment during chronic inflammation limits the success of immune-based and conventional therapies, skewing the balance in favor of a developing pathology.”

The body’s natural defence mechanism (inflammation) actually creates the conditions where pathological processes, such as those found in cancer and other chronic diseases, are able to develop.

This suggests that we need to reconsider approaches to intervening in these diseases:

“…appropriate, well-designed and fine-tuned immune interventions that could resolve inflammatory responses and associated immunosuppression could enhance disease regression and reinforce successful responses to a given therapy.”

With more research, this could open up new avenues in the fight against chronic disease. Meanwhile, it should also get us thinking about ways in which we can discourage inflammatory responses in the body - through diet, exercise, and other lifestyle choices.

 

References:

Kanterman J, et al. New insights into chronic inflammation-induced immunosuppression. Semin Cancer Biol (2012), doi:10.1016/j.semcancer.2012.02.008

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