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CHRONIC INFLAMMATION AND AGING

Inmune Response

MOLECULES:                             CELLS
Complement (15 proteins that           Microglia 
           activated produce a chain   Dentritic cells
           reaction that stimulates    Langerhan cells
           an acute inflammatory       Macrophages
           response.                   Kupffer cells
                                       Alveolar macrophages
                                                                                
C-reactive protein ( Increases during  Neutrophils    
acute tissue injury or inflammation)   Eosinophils
                                       Basophils
Interferon ( kills viruses)            Platelets
Lysozyme ( natural antibiotic against  Natural Killer cells
          bacteria)                    Vascular endothelial cells        
Kinins ( Serum proteins that           Kidney mesangial cells
       stimulates vascular dilation    Reticular cells
       and permeability during         Mast cells
       inflammatory reactions            
        
Prostaglandines ( E 2),    (Fatty acids released      
Leucotrienes and            by damaged cells .
other cytokines             Enhances inflammation)                                                                                                                                              
(TNF-α, I L -6, 
I L-1β, I L 8 )

ADAPTATIVE IMMUNITY

MOLECULES                              CELLS
Antibodies                             B lymphocytes
                                       T lymphocytes
                                         T  -  helper cells
                                         T  -  suppressor cells
                                         T  -  cytotoxic cells

One of the test that detecs chronic inflammation is (CRP). This test is recomended by the anti- aging foundation Life Extension to detect systemic inflammation that could increase the risk of heart attack , stroke, cancer and other age related diseases. The American Heart Assotiation and Centers for Disease control & Prevention (CDC) in 2003 recomended the C-reactive protein test to identify those at risk for a heart attack which is caused by artery inflammation.

Some food plays a mayor role in chronic inflammation.
High glicemic Index foods, contribute to chronic inflammation by increasing levels of insulin. The higher the levels of insulin , the more inflammation the body is producing. Insulin is a hormone produced normally in the body by the Beta cells of the pancreas.
Its secretion is stimulated by increased blood glucosa concentration and by certain amino acids. Its functions are: Facilitates the uptake of blood glucose by cells for storage as glycogen in the liver and muscle; synthesis of proteins and stimulates the production of arachidonic acid wich is part of the metabolism of prostaglandines.

Stress, physical and psychic, causes inflammation. When you are stressed, you produce neuropeptides in your brain and trigger the production of cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland located above the kidney and is an emergency hormone called into play in desperate situations. Cortisol activates the body when it is under stress ( fight-or flight response). However , when a high level of cortisol circulates in the body for longs periods of time, it is toxic to our organs and system.

These stress-related neuropeptides and hormones send messages to the immune system, effectively shutting it down and send signs directly to the skin and produce inflammation.

This two mayor causes of inflammation, stress and diet , can be control . Dr. Nicolas Perricone, in his book " The Perricone Promise " shows a variety of strategies to supress proinflammatory neuropetides and increase the production of anti- inflammatory neuropeptides.

The mayor neurotransmiters in the brain are serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, they control our moods and our brain. Neuropeptides , too , have a big influence in our brain , moods , skin and all organs of our body.

The endocryne system ( produces hormones) works together with the nervous system, they are view as an neuroendocrine system. The neuroendocrine system has the following functions:

• Mantains the water and salt balances, nutrition metabolism and excretion.
• Reacts to stimuli from outside the body
• Regulates reproduction, growth and development
• Uses, produces and stores energy.

The body produces three kind of hormones : peptides , steroids and derivatives of aminoacids

Peptide hormones: Produced in the brain ( growth hormone; ACTH , related to the production of cortisol; melatocite stimulating hormone , related to the pigmentation of the skin ;ADH , related to the regulation of water ;oxytocin, stimulates uterine contraction and secretion of milk) , paratiroid (parathyroid hormone, related to the metabolism of calcium and bone ), thyroid ( calcitonine , related with metabolism of calcium and bone),pancreas ( insulin , glucagon and somatostatin related to metabolism of carbohydrates , fat and protein ), stomach (gastrin, related to digestion).

Steroidal hormones: e.g. cortisol ( produced in the cortex of the adrenal gland), estrogen and progesterone (ovaries) , testosterone (testes), vitamin D, aldosterone

Derivatives of aminoacids:Produced in the brain (Prolactin, related to the production of milk; LH and FHS, related to the stimulation of ovaries hormones; melatonine, regulates adrenal and gonadal functioning) and thyroid ( thyroid hormones , regulates the metabolic rate of the body).