At 17:44 12/9/95 GMT, L. Wollner wrote:
>1. What are the parameters by which a persons immune system
> may be judged?
Leukocyte counts and sub-population percentages. Give a good indication
on the overall state of the immune system.
>2. Is there a normal set of values? Do they vary with age?
Yes there are. But rember, these "normal" values are the average of
randomly selected individuals. Your values might be well out of that
range but that doesn't mean you are sick, this is the "normal" value
for you(assuming healthy state).
>3. In diseases, such as AIDS, these values are comprimised or
> below the "norm" . Is the opposite true ...can the immune
> parameters be above the norm (super healthy) ?
>4. What mechanisms can be used to return a persons immune
> system to the healthy norm or above norm state (assuming
> there is no underlying disease)?
>5. What is the role of hormones with relation to the immune
> system?
I will try to give one answer for all these questions. Ames dwarf
mice which are Growth Hormone, PRoLactin and Thyroid Stimulating
Hormone deficient(because of a pituitary genetic defect) are
immunocompromised. Normal mice(as well as humans) treated with
Cyclosporin A(the most widely used immunosuppressant), FK-506
(more potent than CsA but functionally different) and rapamycin
are also immunosuppressed. Recent research has shown that all these
three drugs interfere with prolaction gene expression.
Emmanuel G. Dialynas
