Back to News

Human immune process identified that fights hepatitis B

Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California have identified a process in which the body is able to eliminate the hepatitis B virus (HBV) from 90% of the infected liver cells. The research was reported in the April 30, 1999 issue of Science.

 

Up until now, it was thought that T-type white blood cells (T cells) had only one function, to kill infected or abnormal cells; hence the name killer T-cells. This study found a new type of T-cell that is able to identify infected cells, secrete a protective chemical that binds to the infected cell and activates it to kill the heart of the hepatitis B virus without dying in the process. This happened several weeks before the body sent a huge influx of killer T-cells to eliminate the remaining infected cells.

 

This research turns upside down years and years of thinking about how the immune system functions. Chiropractors have always said that the inborn, innate intelligence of the body is able to deal with viruses better if the body is functioning the best it possibly can. This research certainly points out a very good reason to keep the nervous system free of interference; so that the protective mechanisms in the body are able to work at peak performance. s