Environment, Autoimmunity, Cardio Flashcards
Environmental stressors impact health through several mechanisms:
Oxidative stress, inflammation, immune system dysregulation, and endocrine disruption
What is the main role of the cardiovascular system
The cardiovascular system ensures all tissues receive oxygen and nutrients while removing waste and supporting overall health
Oxygen & Nutrient Delivery:
Blood transports oxygen from the lungs and
nutrients from digestion to tissues for energy and growth
Waste Removal:
Blood collects carbon dioxide and metabolic waste, delivering it to the lungs, kidneys, and liver for elimination
Temperature Regulation:
It helps maintain body temperature by adjusting blood flow to the skin
Immune Function:
Blood transports white blood cells and antibodies to fight infections and respond to injuries
Hormonal Transport:
It delivers hormones to target tissues, regulating metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions
What are common mechanisms of autoimmunity
Molecular mimicry, chronic inflammation, bystander activation, antigen presentation and autoantibodies, loss of immune tolerance, epitope spreading, protein citrullination
Molecular Mimicry:
Pathogens with structures similar to the body’s tissues can confuse the immune system, causing it to attack both the pathogen and the body’s own tissues, leading to autoimmune conditions.
Chronic Inflammation:
Persistent inflammation from ongoing immune activation damages tissues over time. Proinflammatory cytokines and overactive immune cells contribute to chronic inflammation, worsening autoimmune
diseases.
Bystander Activation:
Immune cells activated during infection or injury can mistakenly target healthy tissues nearby, further driving inflammation and autoimmune processes.
Antigen Presentation and Autoantibodies:
Antigen-presenting cells can incorrectly present self-antigens as foreign,
leading to T-cell activation and the production of autoantibodies, which attack the body’s own tissues.
Loss of Immune Tolerance:
The immune system fails to distinguish self from non-self, leading to autoimmune attacks.
This dysfunction is tied to both the innate and adaptive immune systems and their inability to maintain tolerance to
body tissues
Epitope Spreading:
As autoimmune diseases progress, the immune system begins to target new epitopes, expanding the immune response and increasing tissue damage over time.
Protein Citrullination:
The modification of proteins during inflammation, known as citrullination, can trigger an autoimmune response when these modified proteins are recognized as foreign, leading to the production of antibodies that further drive inflammation.
List the gene factors that contribute to immune dysfunction
HLA, AIRE, FAS, PYPN22, CTLA4, TYK2
Some labs for assessing immune system function
CBC with differential, WBCs, platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE)
Key nutrients for mucosal and intestinal barrier support:
Vit A, Zinc, Glutamine, Arginine, Probiotic & Prebiotics, Vit C, Fiber
Interventions to support histamine regulation:
Low-histamine diet, DAO support (support diamine oxidase), antihistamine botanicals, address root causes
What are xenoestrogens
Chemical compounds that mimic estrogen
Strategies for managing hormone-immune interactions
Adrenal support, thyroid health, blood sugar regulation, liver detox, reduce xenoestrogens, increase fiber intake
Components of cardiovascular system
Heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries), and blood
Inflammation in relation to CVD & Gastro health
Dysbiosis increases pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF), contributing to atherosclerosis. Elevated CRP levels are common
Endothelial dysfunction in relation to CVD and gastro health
Increased intestinal permeability allows endotoxins (LPS) into the bloodstream, causing systemic inflammation and promoting CVD
