Cytokine storm

[Readymom]

Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) Pandemic, the Cytokine Storm: What Drugs Work and Don't Work
http://ezinearticles.com/?Bird-Flu-(Avian-Influenza)-Pandemic,-the-Cytokine-Storm:-What-Drugs-Work-and-Dont-Work&id=207162

by Steven P. Petrosino, Ph.D. and Angela L. Petrosino, MPH
Steven Petrosino, Ph.D. - EzineArticles.com Expert Author

(Dr. Petrosino received his Baccalaureate degree from Penn State University in 1975, pursued his Masters degree with honors at Penn State in 1978, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Doctorate in Nutrition from Lasalle University (Mandeville) in 1995.)

What is a Cytokine Storm?

A cytokine storm, also called "systemic inflammatory response syndrome" (SIRS) is the systemic expression of a healthy and vigorous immune system resulting in the release of more than 150 inflammatory mediators (cytokines, oxygen free radicals, and coagulation factors). Both pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, InterLeukin-1, and InterLeukin-6) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (such as interleukin 10, and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist) are elevated in the serum, and the fierce and often lethal interplay of these cytokines is referred to as a "Cytokine Storm". The primary contributors to the cytokine storm are TNF-a (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha) and IL-6 (Interleukin-6). The cytokine storm is an inappropriate (greatly exaggerated) immune response that is caused by rapidly proliferating and highly activated T-cells or natural killer (NK) cells. These cells are themselves activated by infected macrophages. The cytokine storm must be treated and suppressed or lethality can result. ---CONTINUED---

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Natural Immune System Boosters

Cytokine Storm
https://sites.google.com/site/naturalimmunesystemboosters/cytokine-storm

What Is A Cytokine Storm?

Cytokines are compounds produced by the body’s immune system that attack and remove foreign bodies. Cytokines, produced by a number of different types of cells in response to infection that act as signals to other cells in the body, telling them to divide, or to produce certain proteins, or to cease their production. They assist, basically, in orchestrating portions of the immune response.
Simply put, a "cytokine storm" occurs when this regulation goes on overdrive and the molecules which are supposed to be protecting the body end up causing it harm by responding too strongly to the infection. ---CONTINUED---