Balance is crucial for a healthy immune system.  A variety of stressors such as bacteria, parasites, pollutants, strong emotions, and improper diet, can cause the immune system to become imbalanced.  If the immune system is weakened then it is less able to fight against invading antigens.  Disorders and reactions such as allergies, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, lupus, Crohn’s disease and diabetes can also occur if the immune system is overactive and begins to fight against itself.  However, if the immune system is healthy and balanced, the body will be protected and healed from foreign invaders.  But if the immune system is under active or non-responsive, it is susceptible to infection, illness, and emotional distress.  By supplementing with natural immune modulators, the immune system can achieve and maintain optimum balance. 

Cytokines consist of a variety of multifunctional molecules which work to regulate and control the body’s defense system.  These biomolecules are crucial for optimal immune function as they play a key role in immunity, infectious disease, blood production, tissue repair, and cellular development and growth.  Cytokines actually play an important role in a variety of body functions, ranging from general maintenance and the regulation of inflammatory responses to the direct interference of invading pathogens. 

Cytokines are also important messengers that are used by the immune system to inform the rest of the body that an infection has been discovered.  Any immune system imbalance can lead to interference between cytokines and proper body function.   Different cytokines have different actions on the same cell.  However, there is a large degree of overlap between the actions of one cytokine and another.  Cytokines have been given a variety of names throughout the years including chemokines, monokines, interferons, interleukins, lymphotoxins, lymphokines, and leukokines.  Cytokines are part of large signaling network that have additive, inhibitory, and synergistic effects. 

The most important immune functions are carried out by groups of cytokines that are known as interleukin 1 and 2, interferons, and tumor necrosis factor.  They help to modulate the immune system when the tissue is being threatened or damaged.  Interleukin 1 helps to protect against the effects of radiation and encourage the growth of immune cells, while tumor necrosis factor is produced in response to bacteria and other disease-causing agents.  Additionally, tumor necrosis factor also promotes the production of more cytokines.  Tumor necrosis factor also has anti-tumor properties which increases the activity of other cells that fight tumors and also affects the blood system in tumors.  It also effectively helps to slow down or reverse tumor growth by starving cancer cells of the nutrients they need and reducing blood flow. 

Researchers are currently looking at treating various disorders with cytokines because it is clear that cytokines link the immune system to other physiological systems.  Because of the intricate network of the cytokine processes, many researchers believe that the treatment of various immune disorders could potentially require a combination of immuno-regulatory factors.  Many scientists are trying to recombining cytokines; however it is extremely limited because they are extremely expensive; they may be toxic and cause symptoms such as fever, muscle aches and fatigue; and they may create imbalances in the patient that would not benefit them. 

As a result of these facts, researchers are turning their attention to a natural immune modulator such as hyperimmune egg and colostrum.  Hyperimmune egg and laktoferrin colostrum can stimulate the production and activities of powerful immune agents and jump-start the body’s own defense system, instead of having to rely on drugs to fight invading pathogens.