The Immune Enhancing Effects of Tea - Theanine

Mammals have two largely independent immune systems in their bodies. Although these immune systems do interact, they serve two very different roles in protecting us against pathogens, including cancer and infectious diseases.

Most people are generally familiar with the immune system that is activated by vaccines. This immune response is highly specific, but it is also very slow to respond to specific pathogens. This is why vaccines exist... to pre-activate this genetic or adaptive immune response to specific pathogens. The faster an immune response can be mounted against a specific pathogen, the more immunological protection it provides.

Herein lies the problem. If a person has never been exposed, for example, to a particular influenza virus strain, the specific immune response to this virus may be too slow to protect us against death. This is why flu vaccines are changed every year. The key word is specificity. Yesterday's flu virus may not protect us from Bird Flu or another influenza strain.

Yet, there is another immune system that MAY protect us against All strains of Flu or other pathogens without vaccines.

Think about it. If we HAD to be vaccinated against all pathogens that we encounter, every child over 2 years of age would be dead. Every watch a child eat dirt or stick a dirty object into their mouths? Yet these children do NOT die. There is a reason for this.

Our secondary immune system is called the innate or natural immune system. It encompasses a wide diversity of cells, including natural killer cells, gamma delta T lymphocytes, neutrophils and macrophages. This system is our first line of immunological defense against cancer, and infectious pathogens. Usually, this immune response works just fine. If it didn't, no one would survive childhood.

These immune cells are not activated by immunization. They have the magical ability to recognize and react to the presence of pathogens, including cancer cells, by non-specific means. If you read the scientific literature, it is simply amazing how the innate immune response works and how effective it is in protecting us from...well just about everything.

Although we can activate the genetic immune system by vaccination, can we do the same with the innate or natural immune response? Apparently so.

Three years ago, a scientific study published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences made the news throughout America. Theanine, an amino acid which is 50% of the dry weight of tea leaves, was found to prime a major component of our innate immune system, gamma delta T lymphocytes. Finally, a natural immune enhancer.

This article can be read online if you are interested.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12719524&itool=pubmed_docsum

Gamma delta T cells are a special population of immune cells that increase by 50 fold when we are confronted with bacteria, fungi and viruses. Theanine primes these lymphocytes so they can immediately respond if confronted with a bacterial, fungal or viral infection.

Interestingly, this study shows that drinking green or back tea increases immune reactivity to recall antigens. Recall antigens are simply bacterial, fungal or viral products to which we have been previously exposed. In the presence of theanine breakdown products, our immune system rapidly responds to these pathogens if we encounter them again. The faster our immune system reacts, the more protection it provides us. So drink your tea on a regular basis or take some theanine capsules, sold in health food stores.

In the last year, scientists found that this very same population of gamma delta T cells was much more important for our immunological well being than we previously recognized.

Gamma delta T cells, once activated or primed (by theanine?) can further activate our normal alpha beta T cells, CD4 and CD8 T cells which produce antibody and attack cancer and virally infected cells. These cells act like APC or antigen presenting cells, much like dendritic cells.

This study was published in the prestigious journal Science.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15933162&itool=pubmed_docsum

In the past, no one has ever linked the activation to our genetic immune response to innate immune responses. This study shows that both our immune responses are interrelated. If the gamma delta T cells of our innate immune response can be activated by metabolites of theanine from tea, these cells can further activate our genetic immune response, including the production of specific antibody and cellular immune responses against cancer cells, virally infected cells and other pathogens. And that ain't bad!!!

In a world paralyzed by fears of Bird Flu, cancer and other pathogens, it is important that we keep our immune systems primed. So learn to love tea or take theanine supplements.

Not everything in life has to be complicated.

Copyright 2006 Grouppe Kurosawa

Dr. Stephen Martin is the Chief Scientist of Grouppe Kurosawa, Medicine in the Public Interest. Grouppe Kurosawa is dedicated to establishing Free treatment protocols for a host of acute and chronic diseases using only natural medicines, supplement products and generic drugs. http://www.grouppekurosawa.com

Immune System Supplements

More and more people are taking health supplements worldwide. A recent survey in Canada reported that some of the most commonly used are immune system supplements. Making an effort to maintain a healthy immune system is always a good idea, but is particularly important as the cold and flu season approaches.

The nightly news seems to constantly be reporting about new and more resistant strains of viruses; bird flu, pandemic flu and West Nile are just a few of the names we hear. Those people who feel that they have a healthy immune system are not overly worried about these viruses. People who have a healthy immune system are less likely to become infected with these viruses and are less likely to suffer complications if they do catch a bug.

Natural products that support healthy immune system function are popular and with good reason. Many of these immune system supplements have been the subject of scientific studies. Herbal and botanical products may pose less risk of side effects than vaccinations and anti-viral medications. In one controlled study, people who were given immune system supplements missed less work and developed infections less frequently than those who were given a placebo. The same study concluded that those who used immune system supplements and became infected with the flu developed fewer complications and were less likely to be hospitalized.

The basis for the study of modern immune system supplements is traditional medicine and native or folk remedies. Plants used historically to treat influenza, the common cold and other viral infections have been studied for their action on a healthy immune system. Scientists investigating immune system supplements have found that some are safer than others, some are more effective than others and some are less likely to interact with prescription or over the counter medications that a person may be taking.

Andrographis Paniculata (AP) is an ancient medicinal herb and is an ingredient in some immune system supplements. Scientific studies have shown that AP not only supports a healthy immune system, but may help those with a "not so" healthy immune system, by interfering with a virus' ability to reproduce itself. AP has also been evaluated for side effects and safety and was found that even when very large doses were given to animals there were no toxic effects on the liver, kidneys or other organs of the body. Some commonly recommended immune system supplements are believed to be toxic to the liver if taken for extended periods of time. Studies of AP for extended use to support a healthy immune system have revealed no unwanted side effects, but herbalists warn that it should not be used by pregnant women or those who wish to become pregnant.

Extract of the olive leaf is another ingredient in some immune system supplements and has also been shown in scientific studies to have anti-viral properties. Numerous studies of the health benefits of green tea indicate that it may help support a healthy immune system. It is important to remember that nutrition plays a big role in the function of a healthy immune system, as well as the healthy function of all the systems of the body. Because nutrition is so important, some immune system supplements contain basic vitamins, like C, and essential minerals like magnesium, manganese and zinc. Even a daily multi-vitamin is important, particularly when the typical diet may not contain enough plant foods.

Most research concerning natural immune system supplements indicate that plant foods contain elements essential to the cells that fight viruses. Beta-glucan, found in the cell walls of algae, oats, barley, yeast, is one plant element that appears to be essential to the function of a healthy immune system. One of the better immune system supplements contains beta-glucan, all of the herbs, vitamins, minerals and botanicals mentioned above and a number of other extracts that all have clinical evidence and scientific studies supporting their use as immune system supplements. For more information about this product, visit www.immune-system-booster-guide.com

Patsy Hamilton has more than twenty years experience in health care and currently writes informational articles for the Immune System Booster Guide. Learn more about how to naturally boost your immune system at http://www.immune-system-booster-guide.com