How fungi affect our immune system?

How fungi affect our immune system?

Jan Kalián

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The immune system and its functions is quite a difficult mechanism. It can be activated by many different factors. Let's don't go too deep in theoretical principles and let's focus on the explanation of the basic ones. We can distinguish 2 basic problems of the immune system. First, it can be weakened and not active enough, consequently it is easily hit by some infections and other troubles. Second, it can be active too much, which can cause auto-immune or allergic reactions. AIDS, flu are connected to the first group, while diabetes is a typical representative of the second group. Some fungi are able to regulate the immune system - to enhance the production of white blood cells, or lower it.

Lignicolous fungi can activate the cytotoxic reaction of the immune system by polysaccharides. The immune system reacts if any unknown "intruder" is found by enhanced production of T-cells. Polysaccharides also support the production of macrophages that attack all "intruders". As these beta-glucans seem to be an enemy for the immune system, it is stimulated to higher activity. Many fungi also contain terpenoids that helps in several ways. They are killing germs and viruses. Also, some of them protect coronary artery, while others are anti-inflammatory. Even with anti-inflammatory activity, they dont suppress the production of white blood cells.

Adaptogens are another important group of compounds and substances that helps our organism to face stress. Adaptogenic substances do not harm organism in any way, must help to avoid stress and to support all main systems of our body. It is supposed that during the evolution, our organism evolved to be able to face acute stress in short term, but now to long-term stress that is so typical for modern age. Long-term stress cause many health problems and it weakens the immune system. Fungi are also important like antioxidants. Free radicals that kill bacteria, viruses and muted cells can kill even healthy cells. Antioxidants like vitamin C, E or beta-carotene prevent free-radicals to do so. This means that fungi can help the body to stay young longer.