Thread by @drkohilathas

Why some suffered (and died) with severe C-19 whilst others were fine?

And vitamins and supplements that may help balance your immune system.

A THREAD 🧵

Before we delve into how we improve our immunity, we must know what we are working with.

Today’s focus is T cells, and there are various types.

It all starts with Th cells.

Naive T helper (Th) cells are T cells that have no role.

But when presented pathogenic material by other cells and an interaction is formed using certain receptors Th cells into “effector Th” cells, also known as CD4+ cells.

These effector Th cells are further divided into three main types, identified by the cytokines they secrete.

Cytokines are small secreted proteins released by cells that have a specific effect on cell interactions and communication.

The three effector Th cells are referred to as Th type-1 (Th1), Th type-2 (Th2), or Th type-17 (Th17) cells.

Th1 cells secrete the cytokines interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-β. This makes it easier for these cells to fight infections caused by viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms that grow inside macrophages (another type of white blood cell)

Th2 cells secrete another type of cytokine called interleukins, specifically IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13, which up-regulate antibody production and target parasitic organisms and allergens.

Th17 was later discovered and shown to secrete IL-17, IL-17F, IL-6, IL-22, and TNF-α, and it appears to play an important role in tissue inflammation as well as neutrophil activation to combat bacteria existing outside cells.

In broad terms, Th1 cells work best against viral infections, Th2 cells work best against parasites, and Th17 cells work best against bacterial and fungal infections.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

Th1, Th2, and Th17 populations and the cytokines they release are antagonistic to each other, meaning that they work in opposition.

And so during an infection, one predominant type of effector Th takes control, depending on the pathogen.

There is another form of T cell that can be formed around this time called regulatory T (Treg) cells.

They secrete IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, which modulates helper T cell activity and suppresses some of their functions. They are thought to maintain tolerance to self-antigens, and help prevent autoimmune disease.

I hope you can appreciate that the immune system relies on certain cells doing their job properly and communicating with other cells in the correct way.

But, asynchronicity causes chaos, and, for some, death.

It has been noted that those who suffered with SEVERE COVID-19 had:

- “a significant reduction of %Th1 and %Th17 cells with higher activated %Th2 cells in the COVID-19 patients compared with reference population.”

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

- “increased levels of IL-15 and a high Th2 response are associated with a fatal outcome of the disease.”

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33718270/

- “we also observed a higher Th17/Th1 cytokine imbalance in all deceased patients compared to those that survived”

frontiersin.org/articles/10.33…

- “COVID-19 patients who eventually died had established a potent Th2 response as a compensatory mechanism for an impaired Th1 response”

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

While it has been noted that those who suffered with MILD COVID-19 had:

- “non-hospitalised showed a greater T helper and T killer cell response secreting IL-10.”

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

- “Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals showed a potent and robust Th1 immunity, with a lower Th17”

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

- “A higher proportion of IFNγ-producing T helper 1 (Th1)- like cells in patients with moderate disease”

nature.com/articles/s4157…

Before you carry on, if you’d like a more detailed summary of immunological differences between COVID-19 severity and what you may be able to do about it, then it’s all in one place, the book 👇🏾

callingouttheshots.xyz

So as well as other immunological differences (not mentioned here), those who suffered SEVERE C-19 had less Th1 than Th2 and Th17; and T reg cells tended to be lower in those with severe COVID-19 too.

Whilst those who had MILD or non-hospitalised COVID-19 tended to have greater Th1 and better T reg activation.

Overall, it looks like the bodies of people who had severe COVID-19 responded to the virus as if it were a parasite instead of a virus.

And because the predominance of one Th cell reduces the evolution of others, their disease took off like a runaway train. This train only got faster and more out of control due to a lack of or dysfunction of its braking system: T reg cells.

Unfortunately, in those who died, their immune system became so exhausted that it ceased to work at all, as noted here: “Senescent Th2 cell percentage was an independent risk factor for death accompanied by the numbers of total lymphocytes”

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

When infections were very bad, both T helper cells and T killer cells made more IL-4 (green), which is a sign of Th2 activation.

Whereas in mild or non-hospitalised patients, T cells produce less IL-4 and more IL-10 (orange).

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

So why do some people have Th1/Th2 disruption?

One study found that men, asthmatics, people over 40, smokers, and people with high ACE2 expression in their sputum all had Th1/Th2 dysfunction.

But there are other reasons.

frontiersin.org/articles/10.33…

Don't only focus on C-19; it has long been known that patients infected with HIV who show a Th1 response are seronegative (antibody negative) and do not develop AIDS, whereas Th2 patients become seropositive and evolve to AIDS.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15233728/

Balance needs to be kept for the immune system to work well, and there is more and more evidence that these mRNA agents greatly upset this balance.

But how? 👇🏾

Stress less.

Cortisol is colloquially known as the "stress hormone," but its relationship with our immune system is less appreciated. Cortisol has been shown to shift T-helper status from Th1 to Th2 dominance.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.…

Get better sleep.

One study noted sleep restriction in humans caused an unfavourable shift in the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance towards Th2 activity that was strongest during the daytime.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

Make sure you’re getting enough vitamin A.

Vitamin A has shown to help develop and differentiate Th1 and Th2 cells and the normal function of B cells.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

Make sure you’re getting enough B6

B6 deficiency has shown to cause suppression of a Th1 response and promotion of a Th2 response.

pdfs.semanticscholar.org/d556/ee510dae1…

Make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin E.

As it optimises and enhances Th1 response.

pdfs.semanticscholar.org/d556/ee510dae1…

Reduce excess iron.

As excess iron shifts the balance between Th1 and Th2 cells towards the latter.

frontiersin.org/articles/10.33…

Have enough zinc.

As zinc deficiency is related to Th1/Th2 imbalance.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25462582

Make sure you’re getting the right amount of iodine.

Iodine is able to improve Th1 response in white blood cells from normal subjects by increasing the release of IL2 and IFN-γ cytokines.

frontiersin.org/articles/10.33…

Improve your gut microbiome.

Especially focusing on enhancing Bifidobacterium strains, as they promote Th1 while inhibiting the Th2 immune response.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29255450/

Remove glyphosate from your diet and environment.

Glyphosate can Reduce the Th1/Th2 ratio, mainly due to a decreasing Th1 cells.

frontiersin.org/articles/10.33…

Try Turkey Tail mushrooms.

Polysaccharide K (PSK) from Turkey Tail associated with the IL-12-dependent increase in the CD4+ Th1 cell response to tumour cells.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15183073/

Look into Astragalus.

Astragalus membranaceus has been shown to help balance Th1 and Th2 responses.

hindawi.com/journals/ecam/…

Chaga mushroom.

Research has shown that polysaccharides from I. obliquus affected the Th1/Th2 lymphocyte ratio and Th17/Treg in the colon and therefore could possibly treat inflammatory bowel disease.

tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

Heard of Rhodiola?

Well R. rosea has shown to increase total CD3+ and memory CD4+ T cell pools; as well as increase production of Th1 cytokines.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26063084/

Royal Jelly anyone?

It’s been shown to encourage Th1 polarisation.

linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S…

Progesterone?

Progesterone can also aid in the regulation of Th1/Th2 balance.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10969178/

We can’t forget melatonin.

Melatonin has shown the ability to influence the differentiation and trafficking of immune cells, to activate Th1 lymphocytes, and to enhance NK activity.

mdpi.com/1422-0067/14/4…

Seek immunological balance.