Immunomodulation: Treatment, Effects & Risks

Immunomodulation refers to a partial realignment of the immune responses of the immune system. Immunomodulation can help to curb the undesirable and harmful immune responses and stimulate the desirable and vital responses, especially in cases of exaggerated allergic reactions and autoimmune reactions directed against the patient’s own tissues. Immunomodulations can be achieved by chemical substances and by targeted “training” of the immune system.

What is immunomodulation?

Immunomodulation is the partial redirection of the immune responses of the immune system. It attempts to curb the undesirable and harmful immune responses and stimulate the desirable and vital responses. Immune system responses to specific stimuli such as chemical substances, bacterial or viral pathogens, or to degenerate endogenous cells can be triggered by the innate, genetically determined, or by the adaptive, learned, immune response. The immune system embodies an extremely complex system of response capabilities to defend against pathogens and harmful substances. This includes the recognition and destruction of the body’s own degenerated tumor cells. Immune responses to specific stimuli depend on many different factors, including the strength of the immune system and its orientation. Due to the many challenges faced by the immune system, unwanted and harmful immune responses may occur suddenly or gradually. Typical in this context are allergic overreactions to certain “allergens” or autoimmune reactions that manifest themselves in an attack on the body’s own tissues. To counteract the harmful reactions, which in serious cases can be life-threatening, the immune system is either suppressed (suppression) or an attempt is made to modulate the immune system, i.e. to alter its specific reactions to certain stimuli. For example, desensitization of the immune system to certain allergens corresponds to immunomodulation.

Function, effect, and targets

Immune responses to invading pathologic germs arise from an extremely complex interaction of the individual components of the immune system. In the case of initial infections, the innate – less specific – immune system first steps in with its natural killer cells (NK cells), and the adaptive immune system forms an absolutely specific defense, the “program” of which is retained after the infection has been overcome in the form of memory cells with corresponding antigens, so that the immune system can respond more quickly to a new infection and immunity is established. The adjustment of the immune system to specific pathogens corresponds to an endogenous immune modulation, because the adaptive or acquired immune system is “modulated” via a kind of self-control for an extended reaction. The modulation occurs via a complex interaction of different components of the immune system. The recognition of harmful bacteria and the recognition of own body cells infected with viruses proceeds via negative selection. Cells and bacteria infected with viruses usually lack a certain marker on their surface. They lack, so to speak, the identification by which the immune system would recognize that they are the body’s own cells. A similar process occurs when the immune system no longer recognizes aged or degenerated tumorous cells as endogenous and therefore phagocytizes them and breaks them down into their components, releasing parts of them for recycling in the body’s own metabolism and disposing of the remaining components via the kidneys or liver. Not only pathogenic bacteria or viruses can trigger immune reactions, but also certain substances – mostly biologically active substances such as pollen, certain aerosols or toxic substances that can enter the body in a variety of ways, including, for example, through the respiratory tract. In these cases, too, the immune system reacts with phagocytosis. This means that specialized lymphocytes absorb the substances, render them harmless and remove them. In allergic patients, their immune system reacts too strongly to such chemical stimuli (allergens). The immune system produces larger amounts of histamines and thus attracts more specialized lymphocytes. A kind of inflammatory reaction develops, which can lead to asthma attacks and other serious health problems.In order to treat the problem not only symptomatically, but to combat it causally, an attempt must be made to remodulate the immune system via the process of desensitization, so that the allergic reactions weaken or even cease altogether. Another problem may lie in autoimmune reactions of the immune system. In these cases, cells of a certain body tissue are no longer recognized as the body’s own and are attacked. Known diseases based on autoimmune reactions include multiple sclerosis (MS), in which the immune system attacks the body’s own nervous system, and rheumatoid arthritis. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland. The exact causes of autoimmune diseases are not (yet) sufficiently known. In addition to a certain genetic disposition, causes are also discussed in an insufficiently “trained” immune system, so that immune training with intended immune modulation could even causally combat autoimmune diseases. Immune modulation can be achieved by “training” the immune system and by confronting it with certain stimulants that provoke immune responses, but also by relaxation exercises and sauna sessions. In naturopathy, some secondary plant compounds are believed to have the ability to modulate the immune system.

Risks, side effects and dangers

There are no known direct risks or dangers associated with general immune training or immunomodulation. If immunomodulation is supported by extracts derived from medicinal plants, some caution is advised. For example, ingredients of red coneflower are considered to have immunomodulatory effects. Similar effects are attributed to ingredients of the hemp plant (cannabis). One of the greatest “dangers” of immunomodulation is that, at worst, the goal of improving allergic reactions or curbing autoimmune reactions may not be achieved. If specific goals associated with immune training are not achieved, at least a strengthening of the immune system can be expected as a positive side effect, which should manifest itself in reduced susceptibility to infections and colds.