Re: Cheney on GH & bGF's: Part VI - liver, sensitivities, hormones, immune, thyroid

[Guest guest]

> " GH is known to raise NK function. Why? It raises immune function. But here

lies the potential threat. GH ramps up the immune system, but it ramps up the

TH2 side in particular. That's another reason why, if you get too much, you

crash. So you're better off rebalancing your immune system first. But it is

known that GH has particular benefits to NK function. " (Some may wonder about

the paradox I was too tired to see at the time: an increase in NK function

indicates an increase in TH1 activity. Obviously it's very complex, and I don't

know the answer to the question of how it can ramp up TH2 and yet increase NK

function at the same time.)

Carol,

I also want to say thank you again for all the effort you have put in again to

relay Dr. Cheney's thought to us. The guy is a genius! I'm not saying he's

always 100% right (who is?), but definitely a genius, and definitely defining

the cutting edge a good part of the time.

I might be able to help clear up the above. While it's true that NK cells do go

after cells that are infected with viruses, as does the Th1 immune response, NK

cells are not actually part of the Th1 response. The Th1 response is

antigen-specific. It has to gear up to go after a specific pathogen after the

so-called antigen-presenting cells hold up a piece of protein chopped out of

this particular pathogen. This response is orchestrated by the CD4-positive T

cells, and is called cell-mediated immunity. The NK cells do not have to gear

up, and are not antigen-specific. They can respond and go after an infected

cell as soon as one is encountered. I'm not sure if it is completely known yet

how the NK cells recognize infected cells. I think it may have something to do

with the absence of something that normal cells have. NK cells are part of the

so-called humoral immunity.

Thanks again.

Rich