IMMUNITY RESEARCH (© JCM Ltd)

ASTRALAGUS EXTRACT FIGHTS HIV AND AGEING
A drug extracted from a Chinese herb traditionally used to boost the immune system has been found to help immune cells fight HIV and could possibly slow the ageing process. Cells lose the ability to divide as they age because their telomeres (caps of repetitive DNA found at the ends of chromosomes) become progressively shorter with each cell division. As a result, in the case of immune cells, pathogen fighting ability is compromised. A study by American researchers has found that TAT2, a drug extracted from the Astragalus root (Huang Qi) can prevent or slow this progressive telomere shortening by boosting production of an enzyme called telomerase. The team took killer T-cells from HIV-infected people and exposed them to TAT2. They found that TAT2 reduced telomere shortening, increased cells' ability to divide, and enhanced their antiviral activity. This effect was blocked when another drug was used to inhibit telomerase, suggesting that TAT2 was working via the enzyme. Eventually, telomere shortening causes cells to enter a stage called replicative senescence, when they can no longer divide. It has been previously suggested, although never tested, that it might be possible to reverse the ageing process and extend human lifespan by activating telomerase production, and thus extending the cells’ proliferative capacity, keeping them growing and functioning longer. (Telomerase-based pharmacologic enhancement of antiviral function of human CD8+ T lymphocytes. J Immunol. 2008 Nov 15;181(10):7400-6).

ACUPUNCTURE BENEFITS IMMUNITY
Japanese researchers have investigated the effect of acupuncture on the human immune system. They measured CD-positive cell counts and cytokine expression levels in the peripheral blood of fifteen healthy volunteers before and after acupuncture, to determine the activity of T cells, B cells, macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells. There was a statistically significant increase in the number of CD2(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD11b(+), CD16(+), CD19(+), CD56(+) cells as well as IL-4, IL-1beta and IFN-gamma levels in the cells after stimulation of acupuncture points. These observations indicate that acupuncture may regulate the immune system and promote the activities of humoral and cellular immunity as well as NK cell activity. (Acupuncture Regulates Leukocyte Subpopulations in Human Peripheral Blood. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2007 Dec;4(4):447-453).

TAI CHI ENHANCES FLU SHOT
Researchers in the USA have found that a combination of tai chi and qigong (TQ) can enhance older adults' immune responses to the flu vaccine. A group of 50 adults in their 70s, were randomised TQ or no exercise. The TQ group attended three one-hour classes per week, consisting of tai chi and qigong movements along with standing and seated meditation. All participants received a flu vaccination at the start of the study and had blood tests over the next five months. The results showed that the TQ group had much higher antibody responses against the flu virus than the comparison group. The vaccination resulted in a 173, 130 and 109% increase in antibody titre at 3, 6, and 20 weeks post-vaccine, respectively, in the TQ group, compared to 58, 54, and 10% in the controls. (Effects of a Taiji and Qigong intervention on the antibody response to influenza vaccine in older adults. Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(4):597-607).

AMERICAN GINSENG & COLDS
Consumption of North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) appears to confer some immunity to catching colds. Two hundred and seventy-nine subjects were randomised to receive either 400mg of freeze-dried ginseng or placebo for four months. Consumption of the ginseng was a associated with a decreased mean number of colds and reduced total symptom scores and days of illness. (Predy GN et al. Efficacy of an extract of North American ginseng containing poly-furanosyl-pyranosyl-saccharides for preventing upper respiratory tract infections: a randomized controlled trial. Can Med Assoc J 2005; 173: 1043–8).

ACUPUNCTURE BALANCES ANXIOUS IMMUNE SYSTEM
Acupuncture has been found to counteract impairment of the immune system associated with anxiety. Thirty-four female patients, 30-60 years old, suffering from anxiety, received ten acupuncture sessions during the course of a year (leading to complete remission in all cases). Sessions lasted 30 min and 19 points were used. Blood samples were taken from all patients before and 72 hours after the first acupuncture treatment and a subset of 12 patients had blood taken immediately after the first session and one month after the end of the whole course of treatment. A variety of immune parameters was measured in each blood sample. Immune functions that were reduced in anxious women (chemotaxis, phagocytosis, lymphoproliferation and natural killer cell activity) were found to be significantly improved by acupuncture, while those that were over active (superoxide anion levels and excessive lymphoproliferation) were lowered significantly. Acupuncture was thus shown to have a modulatory effect on the immune system in this group of patients. (Effect of acupuncture treatment on the immune function impairment found in anxious women. Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(1):35-51).

TAI CHI AS GOOD AS VACCINE AGAINST SHINGLES
Tai chi therapy can boost the immune system of patients with shingles to levels comparable to those achieved using a vaccine against varicella zoster virus (VZV, the virus which causes chickenpox and shingles). A controlled trial randomised 112 healthy adults aged 59 to 86, who had a history of varicella infection, to Tai Chi Chih (TCC, a simplified, standardised form of tai chi) or health education (HE) for 25 weeks. After 16 weeks of intervention, subjects were vaccinated against VZV. The results of blood tests showed that TCC alone increased immunity against VZV by an amount comparable to that induced by varicella vaccine in the HE group. Furthermore, the effects of the two were additive; TCC, together with varicella vaccine, produced a substantially higher level of immunity against VZV than vaccine alone, raising it to levels usually observed in adults 30 years younger. The tai chi group also showed significant improvements in scores for physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality, and mental health. (Augmenting immune responses to varicella zoster virus in older adults: a randomized, controlled trial of tai chi. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007 Apr;55(4):511-7).

HERBS BOOST IMMUNITY
In a study on 16 healthy subjects it was found that Echinacea purpurea, Huang Qi (Astragali Radix) and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix) were effective in boosting key blood lymphocytes, the basic building block of the immune system. Echinacea and Gan Cao stimulated proliferation of CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells and NK cells, all three herbs (administered either singly or in combination) were able to activate CD8 T cells (Huang Qi causing the most activation), Gan Cao stimulated NK activation, and all the subjects who received Echinacea tincture showed CD25 activation at 24 hours compared to 0 hours, which persisted at seven days. (21st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, August 9-12, 2006, Portland, OR).

GINSENG PREVENTS ‘FLU
Older nursing home residents, 90% of whom had received the current ‘flu vaccine, who received an extract of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) in the form of the proprietary product Cold-FX, were 86% less likely to contract influenza than those who receive a placebo. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Vol. 52, January 2004, pp. 13-19).

TAI CHI BOOSTS SHINGLES IMMUNITY
In a study to determine the effects of tai chi on boosting immunity to the shingles virus, 36 adults (over 60 years) were assigned to a 15-week tai chi programme group or a waiting group. Their immunity to the chicken pox virus was measured before and after the programme. Those who participated in the tai chi programme showed an increase of nearly 50% in immune cell levels after completing the programme, as well as improvements in physical functioning, while the control group showed no improvement. (Psychosomatic Medicine, September 2003).