Thymus Extracts:

A brief explanation of cellular and humoral immunity. Although immunity involves every orvm and system of the body, the typical conceptualization of the immune system consists of lymphocytes divided into two major divisions: the humoral mid cellular aspects. Humoral immunity includes primarily B lymphocytes and has to do with antigen/antibody reactions. These are the reactions involved in type I (immediate hypersensitivity, IgE response, anaphylaxis), type II (hemolytic disease of the newborn) also known as erthyroblatosis fetalis) and type III (Arthrus) hypersensitivities. In antigen/antibody reactions, B lymphocytes secrete antibodies to an antigen. An antigen is any substance, typically a protein that the body recognizes as "non-self". The antibodies attack an antigen by clumping around it. Simultaneously they weaken it and signal for other aspects of the immune system (especially the complement system and phagocytosis) to immobilize and dispose of the antigen. No direct contact of the B lymphocyte with the antigen is necessary. Cellular immunity, however, is mediated primarily by the T lymphocytes and involves cell to cell contact with microorganisms and other pathogens. The T helpers, T suppressors, T cytotoxic, killer (K) cells and natural killer (NK) cells are part of the system. Macrophages and monocytes are also recruited by members of this array of cells and are involved in constant direct combat with the pathogens and renegade cells that constitute most of the chronic diseases from which we suffer. The cellular branch of immunity is, therefore, responsible for vigilance against neoplastic and aging cells, as well as viruses, fungi (Odds 94), and some bacterial (Berkow 87, P260) and parasitic infections (Rothbard 90, Gasbarre82).