A study conducted, revealed that T-cells grow stronger with age. In this article, we analyze whether the same applies to NK cells. This article covers the functionality of NK Cells with age.
Natural Killer Cells are immune cells that play a very important role in human immunity and in the repression of tumour cells. They contain granules, or tiny particles, which contain enzymes that can destroy tumour cells or virus-infected cells.
The immune system is the strongest weapon the body has to use against invasions. It is trained to fight against diseases including cancer. The immune system is broadly divided into two parts, innate and adaptive immunity.
Innate immunity or ”non-specific” immunity is the body’s initial line of defense against intruders entering the body. It responds in the same way to all germs and foreign substances. The innate immune responses are initiated by Macrophages, Dendritic Cells, and Natural Killer Cells.
The adaptive Immune system has two main components, the T-cells and B-cells: T-cells come into play when an infection has already occurred, therefore, initiating the cell-mediated immune response. T-cells cycle through the body and alarm other white blood cells of an invasion, and they keep a record of the antigen for future purposes.
Cancer is a disease that can develop at any age. But when getting older, some types of cancer grow easier. This is due to the cell damage created through time.
In a clinical study carried out at Saarland University in Germany, Dr. Annette Lis and Dorina Zöphel discovered that certain immune cells become more powerful with age. Old T-cells are more effective killers than young T-cells.
This occurs for multiple reasons: firstly, T-cells produce big amounts of perforin and granzyme which are substances that function as a team. Secondly, T-cells keep a record of intruders they fought in the past, thus they are quick to uncover invasions they have encountered previously.
It raises the question: How come the older generations are not better protected against viruses and cancer cells if their T-cells are highly functional?
It is due to the fact that most of the immune system ages, thus the environment of the T-cells is an aging environment. A part of that environment is Natural Killer cells.
In elderly patients, decreased NK cell activity has been shown to be associated with an increased incidence and severity of viral infection.
However, is an increased susceptibility to viral infection the only consequence of these age-related changes in NK cell function? Scientific evidence has revealed that NK cells are involved in more biological processes than the elimination of transformed cells, such as immune regulation, anti-microbial immune responses, and the recognition and elimination of T-cells, as well as novel functions that involve NK-mediated cytotoxicity and/or cytokine production. Therefore, the decline in NK Cell function is likely to have wider implications for the health of older adults than expected.
That is where immunotherapy comes into play as a valid method in cancer treatment. Immunotherapy uses the power of the immune system in a targeted manner to eliminate cancer cells. Thus, boosting the immune system that has weakened with age. Scientists back the path of immune therapies for older patients as it could contribute to increased effectiveness and a longer lifespan.
Immucura offers a range of immunotherapies, specifically Umbilical Cord Blood Therapy, which is the process of extracting Natural Killer Cells from a donated umbilical cord to be used in an infusion. This infusion boosts the NK cells in the body back up, as it consists of young, fresh NK cells.
The infusion is like a second immune system that goes against tumour cells and infections that can provide long-term results and better overall health.
To find out more about Natural Killer Cell Therapy, get in touch: info@immucura.com
1. National Library of Medicine
2.Net doktor
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