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6 Ways To Strengthen The Lyme Disease Immune System

Living with Lyme disease can be challenging. Many people are infected with the disease and recover quickly with the proper antibiotic treatment – however, others will develop post-treatment Lyme disease symptoms that can hinder the health of the entire body, including the immune system. When the immune system in Lyme disease patients is negatively affected, it can lead to the body being less able to fight off other infections and chronic diseases. The good news is that there are ways to strengthen the Lyme disease immune system. Read on to learn more!

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What Is A CD57 Cell Marker?

The immune system is home to various cells, all of which have their own jobs to do when it comes to keeping the body functioning and healthy. Immune cells are broken up into several categorizations: lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages, and neutrophils. Within the lymphocyte grouping, there are T-cells, B-cells, and natural killer cells.

 T-cells are designed to start a reaction against specific pathogens, which then signals B-cells to start creating antibodies – proteins designed to help the body fight off pathogens. Natural killer cells are then tasked with activating receptors that lead to the production of small proteins that can kill the pathogen or limit its ability to spread throughout the body. 

The immune system uses all of these cells to help keep you healthy. However, in some diseases or infections, levels of immune cells can change dramatically. One such cell is often negatively affected by disease: a natural killer cell known as CD57. But what is a CD57 cell marker? And how is it related to chronic illnesses such as Lyme disease?

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What Is The Role Of IgG In Immune Response?

Each cell, protein, vitamin and nutrient in the body plays a role in how well the immune system functions, as well as the way it regulates and maintains its power to fight off harmful pathogens. Key cells and proteins that work together within the immune system include cytokines, lymphocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, complement proteins, and antibodies.

Antibodies, in particular, have special roles to play when it comes to your immunity. There are five in total, each serving a specific purpose. IgM antibodies, for example, are produced to hunt pathogens and mark them for destruction. The IgE antibody was recently found to have a role in allergies and the response of the immune system when an allergen enters the system. Certain lymphocytes called B cells rely on IgD to help produce new antibodies, and IgA is found in serum, nasal discharge, saliva, and breast milk and plays a role in maternal immunity, among other things.

The most prevalent antibody, however, is IgG. It makes up over 70% of all antibodies found in the system and is the only one that can pass through placenta, essentially protecting newborns in the womb and for a week after birth. It protects the body as a whole after being transported to blood and tissue. But what is the role of IgG in immune response, exactly?

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Patterns Of IgG And IgM Antibody Response In Infection-Driven Illness

The body’s first line of defense is the immune system. When pathogens enter the body, cells within the immune system target them to help the body fight them off and avoid illness. There are three categories of immune cells: lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes/macrophages. Each group of cells has its own respective tasks to do when the body is fighting off an invader.

The immune system also contains certain proteins that help protect the body even further. These include cytokines, complement proteins, and antibodies. Antibodies, in particular, are tasked with hunting down viruses, bacteria, fungi and other pathogens so they can mark them for other cells to find and destroy. Essentially, antibodies are the hunters of the immune system.

There are five types of antibodies that work for the immune system’s search-and-destroy task force, so to speak. Below, we’ll discuss two specific types: IgM and IgG.

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The 6 Major Factors That Influence Immune Function

The immune system operates symbiotically with many other processes in the human body. As the first line of defense against pathogens and illness, it needs to be able to do its job properly if any foreign invaders manage to infiltrate the body.

When one factor of overall health is compromised, the immune system can falter, thus leaving you more susceptible to getting sick. But what factors influence the immune system, and how do they do so?

Let’s take a look at six major factors that influence immune function: age, diet, sleep, stress, environmental factors, and genetics.

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