Studies have shown that Fucoidan helps to activate dendritic cells within the body.  These dendritic cells have been shown to be the most effective anitigen presenting cells for naïve T-cells and initiates the process of immune system recognition of a new pathogen.

In simple terms dendritic cells help the body to identify new invaders and pass the information on to helper T-cells, killer T-cells and B cells (which all fight pathogens such as bacteria and viruses).  Dendritic cells are derived from hemopoietic bone marrow progenitor cells.  These progenitor cells initially transform into immature dendritic cells.  These immature dendritic cells, through the use of pattern recognition receptors, are constantly sampling their surrounding areas for pathogens.  Once these specialized cells come into contact with a pathogen they, through a process called “nibbling” basically take samples of the pathogen, degrade their proteins into small pieces and present those fragments at their cell surface.

Simultaneously, they upregulate cell-surface receptors that act as co-receptors in T-cell activation such as CD80 (B7.1), CD86 (B7.2), and CD40 greatly enhancing their ability to activate T-cells. They also upregulate CCR7, a chemotactic receptor that induces the dendritic cell to travel through the blood stream to the spleen or through the lymphatic system to a lymph node. Here they act as antigen-presenting cells: they activate helper T-cells and killer T-cells as well as B-cells by presenting them with antigens derived from the pathogen, alongside non-antigen specific costimulatory signals.

This, simply stated sets the immune system into motion.  The “helper T-Cells (Th)” for all intents and purposes are the traffic cops of the immune system.  Th cells are involved in activating and directing other immune cells, and are particularly important in the immune system. They are essential in determining B cell antibody class switching, in the activation and growth of cytotoxic T cells, and in maximizing bactericidal activity of phagocytes such as macrophages. It is this diversity in function and their role in influencing other cells that gives T helper cells their name.

Killer T-Cells are a type of T cell that attacks cells having specific antigens on their surface, such as cancer cells or cells infected with a virus. Also called cytotoxic T cell or CD8+ T cell.

The principal functions of B cells are to make antibodies against antigens, perform the role of Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs) and eventually develop into memory B cells after activation by antigen interaction. B cells are an essential component of the adaptive immune system.

Understanding how the immune system works and how Fucoidan sets the wheels in motion gives us a clear picture as to the potential that this important sea-derived substance may be the natural answer to H1N1 that we have all been looking for.

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