Discovery of Gut Bacteria Producing T-Cells: A Possible Treatment for Intestinal Diseases
The positive cellular and molecular effects performed by natural products have been described in several studies and proven by users.
Can diet alter the expression of a bacterial antigen to change adaptive immune responses? According to a new research conducted by M.M. Wegorzewska and her team on a mouse model, yes, it can. This research was not the first of its kind that suggested that microbes interact with the host immune system via several potential mechanisms. One step is the method by which intestinal microbes or their antigens access specific host immune cells. But what are immune cells and what is their role?
All disease is interconnected to the body’s T cells, sometimes too high and sometimes too low. T cells are the body’s immunity and its defense – either killer T cells that fight off invading bacteria or the Helper T cells that repair and keep us healthy 24 hours a day.
T cells are produced in our thymus gland, and every second, 2-3 million red blood cells (RBC) are produced in the bone marrow and released into the circulation. Our RBC last between 3 to 4 months. The thymus gland is constantly busy in maintaining and replacing T-cells for optimal health. The discovery for treating intestinal diseases such as colitis and maybe Crohn’s disease could be linked to the interaction between the right bacteria culture and how it stimulates the production of T cells.
A new experiment investigates how the microbiome shapes immunity. Researchers wanted to know “whether B. theta (Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron), which is known to change its gene expression to break down different available foods, produces more or less of the key antigen depending on its energy source—and whether this, in turn, affects T cells response.”[1]
The interesting discovery was the connection how glucose or sugar spiked water influenced the production of B. theta bacteria and how it dramatically lowered the T cell–interacting antigen, activating fewer cytokine-producing T cells, which can spark an immune response in the colon and its lymph nodes. So “commensal intestinal bacteria respond to dietary changes by modifying gene expression, leading to shifts in the levels of bacterial antigens encountered by the intestinal immune system. These findings suggest that dietary modifications that reduce expression of immunodominant antigens targeted by T cells could help ameliorate some forms of human inflammatory bowel disease.”[2]
In the meantime, the best preventive measure is to maintain healthy gut bacteria with a balanced probiotic complex, a healthy mix of several bacteria from human strain such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium longum, and if shelf-stable, make sure the prebiotic is inulin to feed only the healthy bacteria.
For this reason, Laktokhan Probiotic Complex would be an ideal choice. Laktokhan contains 10 billion CFU (colony-forming units) the amount needed for a therapeutic effect, four human strains of “friendly” intestinal microflora as mentioned above. These healthy bacteria help keep harmful bacteria from multiplying in our intestines. Antibiotics kill off healthy bacteria and lead to weakened immunity and intestinal disorders. Laktokhan restores the balance of good bacteria, thus helping to normalize digestive function and boost immunity. The positive cellular and molecular effects performed by natural products like Laktokhan have been described in several studies and proven by multiple users. Full Spectrum Digestive Enzymes can also contribute to the maintenance of a healthy gut biome by assisting with the complete digestion of food.
And what better way to boost your T-cells than to strengthen the gland that supplies them the thymus gland. Supplementing with thymus gland may also help monitor your glucose/sugar levels by keeping your T cells healthy. The paradox of thymus gland is that it is one of the most important organs for a healthy and strong immune system and yet virtually unknown in the marketplace. If it were known, it would be selling like vitamin C. Doctor’s Choice® offers true full gland Thymus concentrates (not extracts) which are taken from New Zealand-raised, grass-fed sheep without hormones or antibiotics. It just blows me away because it is so powerful, but not a part of everyone’s immunity program.
In this day and age our gut micro bacteria need all the help it can get. Meanwhile, keep in mind that life is 95% maintenance requiring a healthy diet as well as restful sleeping patterns, adequate clean water intake, daily exercise, focused with a positive mental attitude for healthy well-being. Remember, health is a complex state, especially when aging, and it requires a multifaceted lifestyle approach.
References:
- Williams, Shawna. 2019. Mouse Diets Affect How Gut Bacteria Interact with T Cells. https://www.the-scientist.com/the-literature/mouse-diets-affect-how-gut-bacteria-interact-with-t-cells-65896
- Wegorzewska, Marta M. et al. 2019. Diet modulates colonic T cell responses by regulating the expression of a Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron antigen.
https://immunology.sciencemag.org/content/4/32/eaau9079
- Hickey, Christina A. et. al. 2015. Colitogenic Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron Antigens Access Host Immune Cells in a Sulfatase-Dependent Manner via Outer Membrane Vesicles.
[1] Williams, Shawna. 2019.
[2] Wegorzewska, Marta M. et al. 2019.