Humoral
Immunity Response
By
Aysha Siddiqui
Walden University
Introduction
Definition of Humoral Immunity
Humoral immunity response
is part of the adaptive immunity and is the primary defense mechanism against
extracellular microbes, their toxins (Abbas, Lichtman, Pillai, 2012). Humoral immunity is interceded by antibodies
and with capsules rich in ‘polysacchrides and lipids’ it is the main defense. The
National Institute of Health (NIH) describes humoral immunity response
consisting of a number of components that include the naturally occurring
antibodies (NAB), pentraxins (family of plasma proteins), complement and
contact cascades.
Description of Humoral
Immunity:
Humoral immune responses to nonprotein antigens are handled by recognizing the
antigens of specific immunoglobulin receptors of naïve B cells (Abbas,
Litchman, Pillai, 2012). Humoral immune response to a protein antigen is called
‘T-dependant responses and initiated by binding of the protein to specific Ig
receptors of naïve B cells in lymphoid follicles’ (Abba, Litchman, Pillai,
2012).
Disease associated
with Humoral Immunity Response
Stockert et al., (1998) report that growing evidence shows humoral response to
autoimmunogenic tumor antigens and tumors develop an antibody response to
NY-ESO-1 (humoral response). Breast cancer
has shown to be associated with the humoral immunity response by the fact that
malignant tumors show different types of molecules that maybe regarded as
foreign antigens by the immunity system (Abbas, Litchman, Pillai, 2012).
Research has also shown that chronic inflammation leads to cancer development,
while enhanced humoral immunity along with innate immune activation alters risk
of cancer (Tan, Coussens,
2007).
Behavioral Intervention
to Influence Humoral Immunity
Segerstrom, Miller (2004) report that there are more than 300
research studies with evidence of a relation between stress and immunity
response. They report that humoral immunity is not compromised but cellular
immunity is affected in times of acute stress (lasting a few minutes) and with
chronic stress, humoral immunity is also compromised.
Behavioral
intervention to influence humoral immunity would need to focus around stress
reducing techniques. The reason is because stress has been connected to
immunity in lot of research. According to Segerstrom, Miller (2004) age can
play a crucial role as well, since they conclude that stressors can have
varying affect on immunity among older and younger age groups. Some researchers argue that how can stress
get into the body? The sympathetic fibers travel from the brain to the primary
and secondary lymphoid tissues (Ader, Cohen, Felten, 1995).
Segerstrom,
Miller (2004) write that according to Maier and
Watkins (1998) a close connection exists between stress and immune function:
‘the immunological changes associated with stress were adapted from the
immunological changes in response to infection’. Their study explains a
‘sickness behavior’ which includes behavioral changes like lack of socializing,
sexual activity and increase in response to pain, depressing moods. This is
when body is working towards reserving energy to fight future infections.
Behavioral intervention would include steps like:
- Identification of
stressors
- Observation of
bodily response to stressors
- Identification of
past history of stress, anxiety or depression
- Recording of
family history of physiological conditions and immunity deficient diseases
- Understanding of regularity, duration and
timings of exacerbations
- Coping techniques
development that are suitable to the individual and their surroundings,
Complementary/alternative modality or
lifestyle change
Complementary or
alternative modality or medicine (CAM) cover a broad spectrum of ancient as
well we modern techniques, practices to fight and treat disease (Barnes et al., 2008).People who are using or
seeking CAM are usually aiming to improve their health and well being.
To
help a patient with breast cancer whose humoral immunity maybe affected, we could
use CAM as a mean to improve health as well. Massage therapy is an effective
CAM technique that is also known to reduce pain in cancer patients (Pan et al.,
2000). Massage therapy is a technique that involves getting deep tissue or
muscle massage with an intention to work towards a healing process. Billhult,
Dahlberg (2001) describe that in their controlled study female cancer patients
described massage therapy as a ‘relief from suffering’ experience. Cassileth,
Deng (2004) highlight the importance of awareness of massage therapy and other
CAM techniques used by cancer patients for their care providers.
References
Abbas, A. K., Lichtman, A. H., & Pillai, S.
(2012). Basic immunology:
functions and disorders of the immune system. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Ader, R., Cohen, N., & Felten, D. (1995).
Psychoneuroimmunology: interactions between the nervous system and the immune
system. The Lancet, 345(8942), 99-103.
Barnes, P. M., Bloom, B., & Nahin, R. L.
(2008). Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children:
United States, 2007.
Cassileth, B. R., & Deng, G. (2004).
Complementary and alternative therapies for cancer. The Oncologist, 9(1),, 80-89.
Pan, C. X., Morrison, R. S., Ness, J.,
Fugh-Berman, A., & Leipzig, R. M. (2000). Complementary and alternative
medicine in the management of pain, dyspnea, and nausea and vomiting near the
end of life: a systematic review. Journal
of pain and symptom management, 20(5),
374-387.
Segerstrom, S. C., & Miller, G. E. (2004).
Psychological stress and the human immune system: a meta-analytic study of 30
years of inquiry. Psychological
bulletin, 130(4), 601.
Shishido, S. N., Varahan, S., Yuan, K., Li, X.,
& Fleming, S. D. (2012). Humoral innate immune response and disease. Clinical Immunology, 144(2), 142-158.
Tan, T. T., & Coussens, L. M. (2007).
Humoral immunity, inflammation and cancer. Current
opinion in immunology, 19(2),
209-216.
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