The immune system of the intestine and interferon

What is interferon for the immune system? The body’s immune system exists to fight against all matter of pathogens and foreign bodies, including cancer cells. It can mostly cope on its own when dealing with microbes and viruses. But worms and tumours are too uncontrollable for it, unfortunately.

The immune system consists of two parts — the innate and the acquired immunity. Scientists also categorise the latter one as either being passive or active.

Symptoms of bowel cancer

White blood cells, leukocytes & lymphocytes, and platelets are responsible for the majority of the work of the immune system. The immune system also works through different body fluids such as through saliva, mucus of the stomach and intestines, blood, etc.

In particular, type I and II interferons (IFNs) are involved in a plethora of mechanisms that regulate immune responses in cancer, thus balancing immune escape versus immune surveillance.

Interferon and drugs based on it

Interferon is a natural protein that is responsible for fighting infections in the human body.

Medics use interferon-based medications in modern clinical procedures worldwide for the treatment of various infectious and viral diseases, including influenza, SARS, and others.

Mechanism

This mechanism is that the enterocyte membrane surrounds the absorbed substance to form a vesicle that plunges into the cytoplasm. Interferon enters the bloodstream of the inferior vena cava through the system of rectal venous plexuses. That’s how it penetrates the network of venous vessels of the rectum. Further, it gets directly into the large circle of circulation passing the liver, realising the systemic effect.

Colonic irrigation in our clinic in London may help maintain the health of the intestine and normalise the functioning of the immune system.