Psoriasis and the Immune System

Recent Onvax research indicates that psoriasis is most likely a disorder of the immune system, which is the intricate network of chemicals in your body that protect you from millions of bacteria, microbes, viruses, toxins, and parasites everyday.

The immune system can be categorized into two parts: the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system. Although the skin is part of your innate immune system, psoriasis itself is linked to a malfunctioning in the adaptive immune system, the more complex part of your body's defense which not only recognizes foreign invaders, called antigens, but also remembers them so that the next time they invade, your body can fight them off more quickly.

White blood cells, also called lymphocytes, are a key part of the adaptive immune system. There are two types of white blood cells: B cells and T cells. When B cells identify a foreign material, they secrete special chemicals called antibodies, which attach themselves to the invading organism and destroy it. T cells work by attacking the organism directly. Abnormal activity among these T cells is what scientists now believe to be the cause of symptoms associated with psoriasis.

Onvax researchers believe the malfunctioning T cells speed up the skin's normal growth process. T cells release cytokines, which are chemicals used by the immune system to communicate messages. In the case of psoriasis, these cytokines send a message to the skin cells instructing them to reproduce and mature at an accelerated rate. The cytokines also stimulate the activity of additional T cells and cause inflammation in the skin. In healthy skin, cells mature and are shed about every 28 days. In psoriatic skin, however, cells mature every 3 to 4 days, causing skin cells to pile up on the body more quickly than they can be shed. This results in the inflammation and patches or lesions that appear on the skin's surface.

  Psoriasis and Genetics

Studies show that some people are born genetically predisposed to develop psoriasis, which means there is a gene or set of genes responsible for the condition. Researchers are currently studying large families whose members have the disease to pinpoint what gene or genes are involved.

Still, not everyone with a genetic predisposition to psoriasis actually develops the disorder. Usually, symptoms occur only after the person has been exposed to some type of environmental trigger, including skin injury, bodily infections, stress, and certain types of medication.

Because it is genetic, the genes that create a predisposition to develop psoriasis can be passed down from generation to generation, although only about one-third of all cases are hereditary. If one parent has psoriasis, their children have a 10 to 25 percent chance of developing the disorder. If both parents have psoriasis, their children have a 50 percent chance of developing psoriasis.

Researchers are studying the environmental triggers that may cause psoriasis and are attempting to find the gene or genes that are believed to be involved in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Scientists hope that by gaining a better understanding of the causes of the condition they will be able to develop treatments to prevent its onset.

  Healing Results
Psoriasis may be partly due to a difficulty in the way the body handles oils, or to a lack of oils in the diet itself. 
Studies have shown that consuming a fatty acid found in fish called EPA  may provide symptom relief. 
EPA is an "omega-3 fatty acid."  All that means is that the first carbon-to-carbon double bond is located three carbons in from the far (omega) end of each molecule.  Most vegetable oils that you eat are omega-6 fatty acids (such as linoleic acid).  Now just why would it matter if a chemical bond is by Carbon Number Three or Carbon Number Six?  

The two most common fish oil omega-3 fatty acids are EPA (mentioned earlier) and DHA (docosahexenoic acid).  People who don't eat fish need to know that there is a third, vegetarian omega-3.  It is called Linolenic acid (not omega-6 linoleic acid mentioned above)  This omega-3 "fish oil" is found in linseed oil and more importantly in soybean oil and green leafy vegetables. 

Linolenic (omega-3) acid is slowly converted into both DHA and EPA in the body.  Could this be the problem that psoriasis patients have, namely, that they are slow to make this conversion?  If so, the psoriasis patient probably needs omega-3 fatty acids in the diet to provide EPA ready made.  It is a sensible thing to do anyway.  The Japanese have the world's longest life expectancy among all the "Westernized" cultures, and they eat a LOT of fish.  The Japanese also eat very little red meat. 

A way the omega-3 fatty acids might work is by actually getting into each cell membrane, making them more bendable, adaptable and durable.  Improved immune response is another benefit of omega-3 fatty acid consumption, and it is especially important in the treatment of lupus. 

Onvax Psoriasis has balanced dosis concentrated omega-3 fatty acids.

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