Comments on: What are Antibodies? http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59 The Immune Connection Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:37:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: From Arthritis to Zoster » Blog Archive » Allergic Rhinitis (Hayfever) http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-5350 Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:25:50 +0000 http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-5350 [...] Allergic rhinitis is a true atopic condition: it is driven by an exaggerated IgE-mediated immune response (a type I hypersensitivity reaction, for those who keep track of such things). Whenever the appropriate foreign antigen binds to IgE, and thence to IgE receptors on the mast cells of susceptible persons, the mast cells release copious amounts of histamine, which is a molecule that dilates blood vessels, increases capillary permeability, triggers neuronal reflexes, increases salivary and mucoid secretions, and constricts smooth muscles in the airways. [...] […] Allergic rhinitis is a true atopic condition: it is driven by an exaggerated IgE-mediated immune response (a type I hypersensitivity reaction, for those who keep track of such things). Whenever the appropriate foreign antigen binds to IgE, and thence to IgE receptors on the mast cells of susceptible persons, the mast cells release copious amounts of histamine, which is a molecule that dilates blood vessels, increases capillary permeability, triggers neuronal reflexes, increases salivary and mucoid secretions, and constricts smooth muscles in the airways. […]

]]> by: From Arthritis to Zoster » Blog Archive » Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Deficiency http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-5298 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:47:05 +0000 http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-5298 [...] Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the most prevalent antibody found in secretions (tears, saliva, colostrum, etc.) and along the mucosal surfaces of the respiratory, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal tracts. Due to its presence in these fluids and tissues, IgA provides an early defense against invasion by bacteria and viruses. [...] […] Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the most prevalent antibody found in secretions (tears, saliva, colostrum, etc.) and along the mucosal surfaces of the respiratory, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal tracts. Due to its presence in these fluids and tissues, IgA provides an early defense against invasion by bacteria and viruses. […]

]]> by: From Arthritis to Zoster » Blog Archive » Vitamin D and Immunity http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-5296 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:36:50 +0000 http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-5296 [...] T cells and antigen-presenting cells (macrophages, dendritic cells, etc.) express the vitamin D receptor; some macrophages also possess the enzyme that converts 25-hydroxyvitamin D to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (the vitamin’s active form). VDR-dependent stimulation of immune cells promotes a variety of cellular functions: antigen processing, cytokine production, cellular differentiation and division, production of antimicrobial peptides, and antibody production are all influenced by vitamin D. [...] […] T cells and antigen-presenting cells (macrophages, dendritic cells, etc.) express the vitamin D receptor; some macrophages also possess the enzyme that converts 25-hydroxyvitamin D to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (the vitamin’s active form). VDR-dependent stimulation of immune cells promotes a variety of cellular functions: antigen processing, cytokine production, cellular differentiation and division, production of antimicrobial peptides, and antibody production are all influenced by vitamin D. […]

]]> by: From Arthritis to Zoster » Blog Archive » Immunotherapeutics — Modifying the Immune Response to Treat Disease http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-5211 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:54:42 +0000 http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-5211 [...] A more thorough discussion of antibody production and function is found elsewhere. Simply put, antibodies are complex proteins that bind to antigens (foreign substances) and inactivate or destroy them. For every potential antigen that might prove troublesome to an organism, a specific antibody can be manufactured. Hence, antibodies can target disease-causing microbes, proteins, or parts of abnormal (or even normal) cells. This antigen-specific property makes antibodies an intriguing candidate for treating a host of diseases and conditions. [...] […] A more thorough discussion of antibody production and function is found elsewhere. Simply put, antibodies are complex proteins that bind to antigens (foreign substances) and inactivate or destroy them. For every potential antigen that might prove troublesome to an organism, a specific antibody can be manufactured. Hence, antibodies can target disease-causing microbes, proteins, or parts of abnormal (or even normal) cells. This antigen-specific property makes antibodies an intriguing candidate for treating a host of diseases and conditions. […]

]]> by: From Arthritis to Zoster » Blog Archive » The Complement System — An Important Barrier to Infection http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-5152 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:46:12 +0000 http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-5152 [...] Among the many components of a healthy immune system, the complement system – so named because it “complements” antibodies in their attempts to rid our bodies of foreign antigens – serves as one of the principal bridges between innate (“instinctive”) and acquired (“learned”) immune responses. The complement system is composed of a group of enzymes that, when activated, initiate a biological cascade that helps to defend us from infection. [...] […] Among the many components of a healthy immune system, the complement system – so named because it “complements” antibodies in their attempts to rid our bodies of foreign antigens – serves as one of the principal bridges between innate (“instinctive”) and acquired (“learned”) immune responses. The complement system is composed of a group of enzymes that, when activated, initiate a biological cascade that helps to defend us from infection. […]

]]> by: Armen Hareyan http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-2841 Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:15:03 +0000 http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-2841 Good morning, This is Armen Hareyan writing from www.eMaxHealth.com I read your articles in Suit 101 and would like to invite you to consider the regular writing opportunities that we have at www.emaxhealth.com eMaxHealth.com has about 10-15 thousand daily visitors and as we are growing we are recruiting writers. The income depends on how many people read your stories. We are currently paying $3 dollars per 1000 pageviews, which is much higher than the industry average and is twice higher than About.com. The pageviews are tracked by Google and you have access to analytics any time. Payments come once a month. You are welcome to contact Kathleen Blanchard, who is also writing fro Suit 101 (http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/kab625) and is a current eMaxhealth.com writer, for reference. Her email is nursekathy625@gmail.com. If this interests you please reply to us for more details on how to get started. Thank you. Sincerely Armen Hareyan Hareyan Publising, LLC Editor www.emaxhealth.com 4128 2ndt St. NW Hickory, NC 28601 Tel. 828 291-5884 Email: hareyan@emaxhealth.comtl Good morning,

This is Armen Hareyan writing from www.eMaxHealth.com

I read your articles in Suit 101 and would like to invite you to consider the regular writing opportunities that we have at www.emaxhealth.com

eMaxHealth.com has about 10-15 thousand daily visitors and as we are growing we are recruiting writers. The income depends on how many people read your stories. We are currently paying $3 dollars per 1000 pageviews, which is much higher than the industry average and is twice higher than About.com.

The pageviews are tracked by Google and you have access to analytics any time.

Payments come once a month.

You are welcome to contact Kathleen Blanchard, who is also writing fro Suit 101 (http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/kab625) and is a current eMaxhealth.com writer, for reference. Her email is nursekathy625@gmail.com.

If this interests you please reply to us for more details on how to get started.

Thank you.

Sincerely

Armen Hareyan
Hareyan Publising, LLC
Editor
www.emaxhealth.com
4128 2ndt St. NW
Hickory, NC 28601
Tel. 828 291-5884
Email: hareyan@emaxhealth.comtl

]]> by: The Doc http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-2774 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:32:03 +0000 http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-2774 Hey there, Muted Mapmaker! Thanks for the input. Biology teachers have to complicate matters by trying to explain things like opsonization, receptors, Bence-Jones proteins, kappa chains, highly-variable regions, epitopes, etc. I can dispense with all of that, because Simple is my middle name... Hey there, Muted Mapmaker!
Thanks for the input. Biology teachers have to complicate matters by trying to explain things like opsonization, receptors, Bence-Jones proteins, kappa chains, highly-variable regions, epitopes, etc.
I can dispense with all of that, because Simple is my middle name…

]]> by: Silent Cartographer http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-2769 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:29:46 +0000 http://naturallyimmunemd.com/?p=59#comment-2769 Great article! A complex topic explained in simple terms. I learned more with this than I did in my college biology class... Great article! A complex topic explained in simple terms. I learned more with this than I did in my college biology class…

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