A Preventive and Crisis Intervention formula 1000 mg. Bovine Immunoglobulins 1000 mg. Gigartina Red Marine Algae Suppresses Influenza Stops diarrhea Flu Fighters is a preventive and crisis intervention formula Certain strains of heat killed (tyndalized) bacteria (available in Europe for over 20 years) as well as some Gigartina Red Marine algae species have shown efficacy in reducing severity of influenza symptoms*. Immunolin® immunoglobulins support overall intestinal health and immune strength. Tyndalized probiotics have been used in Europe for decades at a dosage of 5 billion per day to stop diarrhea. Tyndalized probiotics have all the benefits of living probiotics, but do not grow in the G.I. tract. Tyndalized probiotics block implantation and growth of pathogens in the gut, help live probiotics in your GI Track attack, and stop the proliferation of pathogens. Tyndalized probiotics also provide natural antibiotics that destroy pathogens. Gigartina algae have been shown effective at suppressing influenza viruses. Sulfated polysaccharides in Gigartina block, enrobe and may kill flu viruses. Immunoglobulins of bovine origin are antibodies specific to human pathogens including influenza viruses. Supplemental immunoglobulins act in the intestinal tract to eliminate or inhibit the proliferation of disease causing organisms and toxins. Our Immunoglobulins provide transferrin, endotoxin-binding proteins and other acute phase proteins that provide added immune support. Flu fighters is shelf stable. No refrigeration required. Convenient for travel. Ingredients Flu Fighters is a unique and powerful combination formula centered on three potent supplements that support intestinal health: Gigartina, Immunoglobulins, and tyndalized probiotics. The material in Flu Fighters does not contain sucrose, starch, yeast, colorings, flavorings, preservatives, grains, or any common allergens. Supplement Facts Serving Size: 5 Capsules Servings Per Container: 14 Amount per capsule Amount % Daily Value Tyndalized Lactobacillus acidophilus 5.0 billion * Tyndalized Lactobacillus casei 2.5 billion * Tyndalized Lactobacillus thermophilus 2.5 billion * Gigartina Red Marine Algae 1000 mg * Immunolin® Bovine Immunoglobulins 1000 mg * *Daily value not established Other ingredients: gelatin capsule, silica, crystalline cellulose ™Immunolin is a trademark of Proliant, Inc. Ames, IA *This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Directions As a dietary supplement, take five (5) to ten (10) capsules daily Get Smart About Immunity From: Human Anatomy and Physiology Alexander P. Spence, Ph.D. & Elliott B. Mason, Ph.D. auth. The Benjamin/Cummings publishing company, Inc., Menlo park, CA IMMUNOLOGY The specific immune responses allow the body to recognize certain materials or organisms as foreign and to neutralize or eliminate them. Previous exposure to the foreign agent is often required in order for the specific immune responses to be most effective. The specific immune responses are not always beneficial, however, and they maybe responsible for allergies and other hypersensitivities. There are two aspects to the specific immune responses. One aspect is mediated by antibodies produced by plasma cells that are progeny of lymphoid cells called B cells, and the other is mediated directly by a population of lymphoid cells called T cells (F18.7). B CELLS Lymphocytes are derived from precursors in the red bone marrow. Those cells that are destined to become B cells pass through an unknown site in humans (presently thought to be in the bone marrow itself). Here they become committed to differentiate into the antibody producing cells involved in humoral immunity. The B cells ultimately lodge in the lymph nodes and other lymphoid tissues. B cells are responsible for the body's specific immune resistance to most bacteria. T CELLS After their formation in and release from the red bone marrow, lymphocytes that are destined to become T cells pass through the thymus gland where they become committed to participating in cell mediated immune responses. From the thymus, they lodge in the lymph nodes and other lymphoid tissues, but they may still be influenced by a hormone (thymosin) from the thymus gland. T cells are important in providing resistance to fungi, certain viruses, parasites, and intracellular bacteria. In addition, T cells play an extremely important role in the rejection of solid-tissue transplants, and they may provide a means of detecting and eliminating abnormal body cells that may be cancerous. HUMORAL (ANTIBODY) IMMUNITY Antibodies are specialized proteins that can combine specifically with the antigens that stimulate their production. Antigens are substances that can induce the synthesis of antibodies with which the antigens can specifically combine. Humoral immunity involves the production and release into the blood and lymph of antibodies to various antigens that the body recognizes as foreign. Antibodies are composed of polypeptide chains (F18.8). Different antibodies are structurally similar to one another, except for their functional conformation and for variations that occur among a few amino acids at the ends of the chains. These relatively small differences, however, are responsible for the remarkable specificity of antibodies. Specific antibodies are produced in response to specific antigens. Particular antibodies combine only with the antigens that stimulate their production or with a limited class of very similar molecules. Antibodies belong to a family of proteins known as gamma globulins and are specifically referred to as immunoglobulins (lg). Five immunoglobulin classes of antibodies are distinguished. Immunoglobulin classes G and M (lgG and lgM) are involved in specific immunity against infectious microbes. Immunoglobulins of class E (lgE) are involved in certain allergic responses. Immunoglobulins of class A (IgA) are released from lymphoid tissues that line the gastrointestinal, urogenital, and respiratory tracts and are involved in protecting these areas. The role of the D class of immunoglobulins (lgD) is presently unclear, although they may be involved in the activation of the humoral immune responses. The antibodies that are produced in response to particular antigens are able to combine with the antigens and form antigen-antibody complexes. An important activity of these antigen-antibody complexes is to enhance the basic inflammatory response. One of the major ways that this occurs is through the activation of a series of blood substances collectively called complement. Precursors of the active complement components are normally found in the blood in inactive forms. Antigen-antibody complexes (particularly those that involve antibodies of the lgG or lgM classes) activate the first component of the complement system. This initiates a cascading series of reactions that results in the production of the active complement molecules (F18.9). Once generated, the active complement components enhance various aspects of the inflammatory response. Vasodilation and vascular permeability are enhanced both by the direct effects of complement components upon the blood vessels, and as a result of the effects of complement components in stimulating histamine release from mast cells and platelets and in activating plasma kallikrein. Complement components also act as chemotactic agents in attracting neutrophils. In addition, they enhance phagocytosis by coating microbes so that the phagocyte cells can hold them better. Complement components may also act as enzymes and directly attack the invading microbes and kill them without prior phagocytosis. Complement components that attach to microbes to enhance phagocytosis as well as those that attack and kill directly combine only with cells that have antibodies attached to their surface antigens. The presence of such antigen-antibody complexes serves to fix or identify the cells to be attacked. Thus the specificity that the system displays resides in the formation of specific antigen-antibody complexes on the cell surface and not in the complement system itself. In addition to activation by antigen-antibody complexes, the complement system may also be activated by active factor XII, as well as by other factors. Specific antibodies may also combine with toxins produced by the cells or with viruses to neutralize them and enhance their phagocytosis. The humoral system may respond to a foreign invader, as follows. When a foreign antigen reaches the lymph nodes, spleen, or lymphoid patches in epithelial linings, a tiny fraction of the B-lymphocytes are stimulated to undergo rapid cell division. Most of the stimulated cells develop into antibody-producing cells called plasma cells, which form antibodies that are released into the blood and lymph. The antibodies then combine with the specific antigen that stimulated their production, and responses such as those that involve complement components are seen. Some of the stimulated B cells do not fully differentiate into plasma cells. These cells provide the humoral system with a "memory" of the initial exposure to the antigen. The system responds rather slowly following the initial antigen exposure, and several days may be required to build up substantial levels of antibodies. Because of the memory component, however, a second exposure to the same antigen produces a very rapid outpouring of antibodies. One theory of antibody production proposes that different antigens stimulate different populations (clones) of B cells. Each clone is believed to be able to ultimately produce one specific antibody. The type of antibody a given clone of B cells can produce is thought to be displayed on the surface of the cells. When an antigen enters the system, it combines with the antibody specific for it that is displayed on the surface of particular B cells. This stimulates those B cells to undergo division and differentiation, and to ultimately manufacture that antibody. According to this theory, there are sufficient clones of B cells within the body to allow for the production of antibodies to all of the numerous antigens to which a person might ever be exposed. In actual fact, B cell activation may involve more than just an exposure to the antigen specific for the B cell's antibody. There is evidence that macrophages are involved in the interaction, and T cells may be needed as well. CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY Upon exposure to a specific antigen, a specific clone of T lymphocytes becomes sensitized against the antigen. Some of these sensitized lymphocytes serve as a memory component of the system, while others participate directly in the cell mediated immune response. In this response, sensitized lymphocytes are released into the circulation and travel to the site of infection or invasion. When the sensitized lymphocytes again encounter the specific antigen and combine with it, they release a number of different chemicals. These chemicals both amplify the basic inflammatory response and subsequent phagocytosis, and kill the invading cells directly. Some chemicals are chemotactic, attracting to the area neutrophils and, especially, monocytes (which can be converted to macrophages). Some chemicals act to maintain macrophages already in the area at an increased level of phagocytic activity. Other chemicals act as cytotoxins that directly kill target cells. Sensitized lymphocytes have also been found to produce interferon. IMMUNE SURVEILLANCE The cell-mediated immune system may protect the body against potentially cancerous cells. Cancer cells apparently have on their surface antigens that are recognized as foreign by the body's immune system. T lymphocytes may encounter these antigens and become sensitized to them. The resulting sensitized lymphocytes can attach to these antigens on the cancer cells and destroy the cells. Thus it is conceivable that an individual may get "cancer" many times, but the immune system provides protection. Clinical cancer may result from the failure of this system to function properly. TRANSPLANT REJECTION The cell-mediated immune system may also be involved in the rejection of solid-tissue transplants. Incoming tissues, except those from an identical twin, have on their cell surfaces antigens called histocompatibility antigens that are different from the histocompatibility antigens of the recipient. These are recognized as foreign and are attacked by sensitized lymphocytes just as in immune surveillance. In transplant surgery, the ability of T cells to respond in this fashion may be weakened by drugs that suppress their production. In most cases, however, B-cell production is also suppressed, and the individual thus becomes very susceptible to infection. ACTIVE IMMUNITY The activation of an individual's immune system in response to exposure to antigens provides what is called active immunity. Most commonly, active immunity is acquired by catching a disease or having an infection. Alternatively, active immunity may be acquired through vaccination, which involves the injection of a small amount of antigenic material. This material may be bacterial, a toxin, or other substance. Rather than being a disease-causing agent, however, the injected material has usually been pretreated by drying, ultraviolet light, or some other means so that it is not strong enough to cause disease, but may still act as an antigen and stimulate the immune system. Because of the memory component of the system, if a vaccinated individual later becomes exposed to the virulent form of the agent, the immune system responds rapidly. It should be noted, however, that not all microorganisms induce active immunity. Some apparently do not stimulate the memory component of the system, and the response to each exposure is the same as the slowly developing response to the initial exposure. PASSIVE IMMUNITY An individual may be provided with passive immunity by an injection of or oral supplementation with antibodies collected from sources (often nonhuman) that have been exposed to the disease-causing agent. Such immunity is of relatively short duration (several weeks), and the person's own immune system is not stimulated at all. Possible dangers of this procedure are that the injected antibodies (gamma globulins) may themselves be antigenic in the person's system-especially if they were obtained from nonhuman sources. Thus the injected antibodies may themselves stimulate the production of antibodies against them by the recipient's immune system. RECOGNITION OF SELF AND NON-SELF ANTIGENS One of the truly intriguing questions about the immune system is how the system, both the humoral and cell-mediated aspects, is able to distinguish foreign or non-self antigens from self-antigens. Normally, antibodies are not produced against a person's own antigens. It is believed that exposure to particular antigens during prenatal development will prevent antibodies to those antigens from being produced in later life. Since a person is exposed to his or her own antigens during development, antibodies will not be produced against these antigens in later life. In this regard, it has been shown that if developing mice are injected with tissue antigens from another source prior to their birth, they will not reject grafts from that source when adults. However, the ability to recognize self and non-self antigens is not always perfect, and occasionally autoimmune responses are seen where a person produces antibodies to his or her own tissues. ALLERGY Allergy is an example of an inappropriate immune response that may actually damage tissue. Both the humoral and cell-mediated systems may be involved. In what are recognized most commonly as allergies {atopic allergies), sensitization to environmental antigens such as dust, pollen, foods, and so on, results in the production of class lgE antibodies from plasma cells. These antibodies attach to Mast cells and basophils. When the environmental antigens attach to the antibodies that are attached to the Mast cells and basophils, they stimulate the release of histamine and other vasoactive chemicals that produce a local inflammatory response. If the exposure is in the nasal area, the result may be sneezing, runny nose, and the typical symptoms of hay fever as the result of in- creased mucus secretion, increased blood flow, and increased protein leakage in the area. EFFECTS OF AGING ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM As an individual ages, a diminished number of circulating T cells may be observed. In addition, with age the level of circulating antibodies may decrease, thus implying that there is a decrease in B cell function. Since the incidence of cancer increases substantially with age, it has also been suggested that the mechanisms of immune surveillance that act to eliminate potentially cancerous cells may not be as effective in older people as in younger people.