Understanding Micro-immunotherapy and Lymphocyte Typing: A Dive into Modern Immunology Tools
In the complex world of immunology, two significant concepts deserve some attention for their roles in understanding and managing immune-related disorders: micro-immunotherapy and lymphocyte typing. While micro-immunotherapy offers a nuanced approach to immune system modulation, lymphocyte typing provides insights into the immune system's cellular components. This blog explores these two fascinating areas, shedding light on their mechanisms, applications, and potential benefits.
Immune homeostasis.
The immune system plays a central role in health and disease and most, if not all diseases are rooted in immune dysregulation. Optimal immune function is a sophisticated balancing act between tolerance and defence; on one side, the immune system must tolerate the body's own cells and harmless substances whilst on the other, it must be capable of mounting a robust defence against pathogens and other harmful molecules. Within this finely tuned balance lies the difference between health and disease; both deficient and exacerbated immune responses can turn into disease drivers. Our modern lifestyle exposes us to a vast array of immune ‘irritants’, including environmental toxins, processed foods, toxic plant oils, information overload, psycho-emotional stress, loneliness, and lack of nature. These persistent irritants drive the immune system into a chronic state of inflammation, leading to immune imbalances and metabolic alterations that ultimately cause disease. We have explored these key topics in previous blogs. The ability to identify such imbalances and retrain or modulate immune activity is compelling. This is where lymphocyte typing, and micro-immunotherapy come into play.
Micro-immunotherapy
Micro-immunotherapy is a therapeutic approach designed to restore immune homeostasis by addressing immune dysregulation. It uses immunomodulatory substances in low to ultra-low dosages in a precise and targeted manner to counteract the development or progression of pathologies associated with immune imbalances.
Micro-immunotherapy originated in 1967 when Dr Maurice Jenaer, a Belgian family doctor and physician to the Royal Family, began experimenting with administering low doses of DNA and RNA sublingually to cancer patients. Encouraged by positive results, he refined his approach and discovered that low-dose, sublingually administered immune messengers, such as cytokines, held significant therapeutic potential. Dr Bernard Marichal further advanced this work in the early 1990s by identifying the benefits of specific nucleic acids (SPAs) in targeting viral replication. This research laid the foundation for modern micro-immunotherapy and led to its standardization by Labo'Life, a leading pharmaceutical company in low-dose immunotherapy.
Micro-immunotherapy utilises the principle that immune-modulating substances can have varying effects on the body depending on their concentration. This concept aligns with the biphasic dose-response curve demonstrated as early as the 1920s with Arndt-Schultz’s law, which states that the same substance can either stimulate or inhibit physiological processes depending on its dosage. By employing precise micro-doses (nanograms, picograms, and femtograms) in a specific sequential order, micro-immunotherapy leverages the body’s natural signalling pathways and processes. Essentially, micro-immunotherapy harnesses the immune system’s inherent intelligence to adapt and self-regulate. This low-dose approach allows for achieving desired changes in immune activity without the risk of toxic or adverse effects often associated with higher doses. Thus, micro-immunotherapy operates gradually, facilitating a natural and sustained restoration of immune balance over time. Consequently, it is recognised for its high tolerability, suitable for a wide range of applications in both children and adults.
- The immune modulatory substances used include:
- DNA and RNA (plant origin)
- Cytokines (interleukins, interferons, growth hormone)
- Specific Nucleic Acids (short oligonucleotides)
According to current regulations, micro-immunotherapy is considered homeopathic medicine due to its low dose manufacturing process and is non-prescriptive. Hence, it can be used by both doctors and complementary practitioners who have undergone training to understand how to engage with this therapy. Given that many of our clients suffer from chronic inflammatory diseases, incorporating micro-immunotherapy alongside other lifestyle measures may offer additional support. Such approach leverages the immunomodulatory effects of micro-immunotherapy to potentially benefit individuals with a range of conditions, including autoimmune diseases, allergies, chronic infections, chronic fatigue, and even be supportive alongside more conventional cancer treatments. Additionally, micro-immunotherapy may be beneficial in supporting the immune response during acute infectious illnesses or used prophylactically as appropriate, highlighting its broad application.
Lymphocyte Typing
Lymphocyte typing, also known as immunophenotyping, is an innovative laboratory test that enables the precise identification and quantification of different lymphocyte populations. This information is invaluable for pinpointing abnormalities in lymphocyte counts, sub-populations, and distributions, revealing immune imbalances such as immunodeficiencies, autoimmune trends, hypersensitivity and toxicity.
Specific patterns detected through lymphocyte typing can indicate whether the immune system is in an adaptive or nonadaptive state, whether it is hypo- or hyper-reactive, and if an individual is burdened by extracellular or intracellular challenges. It can also identify excessive mucosal inflammation.
With such detailed insights, results from lymphocyte typing can help prioritise intervention strategies effectively.
Lymphocyte typing testing can be a valuable adjunct to micro-immunotherapy, helping to guide more personalised interventions for clients with complex clinical presentations. The results of lymphocyte typing can also inform decision-making on additional relevant testing and facilitate monitoring of progress.
The primary types of lymphocytes included in the lymphocyte typing include:
- T cells: Essential for cell-mediated immunity, T cells help destroy infected or cancerous cells and regulate immune responses.
- B cells: Responsible for producing antibodies, B cells play a crucial role in humoral immunity.
- Natural Killer (NK) cells: These cells target and kill virally infected cells and tumours, and can also respond when T/B cell response may be sub-optimal.
The test uses flow cytometry, a technology that analyses the physical and chemical characteristics of cells or particles as they pass through a laser. By using specific antibodies that bind to unique markers on the surface of lymphocytes, flow cytometry can accurately determine the proportions of T cells, B cells, and NK cells in the sample. As our understanding of the immune system continues to grow, lymphocyte typing can be a pivotal component of comprehensive healthcare. This advanced diagnostic tool enables the recommendation of more precise and personalised lifestyle strategies for a wide range of health challenges. By navigating through the complexities of immune dysregulation with lymphocyte typing and employing micro-immunotherapy to offer targeted interventions, the synergistic application of these tools can help practitioners provide optimal and individualised support to clients.
Testing and training options with Colab Services:
Micro-immunotherapy foundation certification course, 12th and 26th of September 2024, 6pm-8pm.
This training will be hosted by Colab Services and delivered by Dr Fransieska Meuchel. You can register your interest by emailing our Educational Lead, Karina Athwal; karina.athwal@colabeu.com. Lymphocyte Typing Testing
LM6261: Lymphocyte Typing Test
Add on serology for further information:
LM001: Lymphocyte Typing Test with half viral panel: EBV, VZV, CMV, HSV1/2.
LM3539: Immune Helper Cell Typing - Th1/TH2, T Reg, TH17
LM4687: Inflammation Profile - IL6, LPS Binding Protein, TNF alpha, IL8, IL23, IL5, IFNy, IL10