Description
NOTE: This test is ONLY AVAILABLE TO AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS.
How good is your Immunity? Take the Immune Cytokine test and discover the truth about your immunity.
About Cytokines
Cytokines are chemical messengers that primarily signal the immune system, but also play a role as neuromodulators. They can be defined as either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory. Cytokine imbalances may be involved in autoimmune disorders, atopic conditions as well as neuropsychiatric disorders.
Cytokines are signaling proteins and glycoproteins that mediate and regular immunity, inflammation and hematopoiesis. They are also involved in cell growth and differentiation, cell death, angiogenesis, normal development and neuromodulations.
Cytokines are critical to the functional both innate (cell-mediated) and adaptive (antigen specific/humoral) immune systems. They are known as either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory. Pro-inflammatory cytokines include interferon-gamma (INFγ), interleukin-2 (IL2) and interleukin-12 (IL12); whereas interleukin-4 (IL4) and interleukin-5 (IL5) are anti-inflammatory.
Generally pro-inflammatory cytokines are secreted from T-helper 1 (Th1) cells and anti-inflammatory cytokines are secreted from T-helper 2 (Th2) cells. Under normal circumstances the Th1 and Th2 systems should be in balance.
Analytes
The Cytokine Immune test checks the following important immune markers:
- GM-CSF
- IFN Gamma
- IL-10
- IL-12
- IL-13
- IL-17
- IL-1A
- IL-2
- IL-4
- IL-5
- IL-6
- IL-7
- IL-8
- TNFa
- TNFB
Test Method
EIA (Enzyme immunoassay)
Common Conditions associated with impaired Cytokines
- Respiratory Health
- Asthma
- Mental and Emotional Health
- Depression
- Skin and Dermatological Health
- Eczema
- Other Health Conditions
- Food intolerances
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Autoimmune and Immune System
- Hashimotos Thyroiditis
- Reproductive Health
- Recurrent miscarriages
- Muscle and Joint Health
- Rheumatoid arthritis
About The Test
All tests come with full instructions, including a pre-authorised practitioner script.
Home test kits come with everything you need to complete the test, including free express post return postage to the laboratory.
All pathology test kits come with a preauthorised script (including test kit/s if required) to take to your local pathology test centre.
You can click here to find a pathology near you.
Turn-around time: up to 21 days
Cytokines and Disorders of the Immune System
Over-activation of either the Th1 or Th2 system can cause disease, being active even when there is no threat. When Th1 is dominating abnormally, organ specific autoimmune type diseases can result. On the other hand, when the Th2 system is dominating, disorders that are primarily allergy or antibody driven occur. The body becomes overly sensitive to ‘extracellular pathogens’, often reacting and producing antibodies against non‐pathogenic stimuli such as food and dust.
Blood cytokine levels are useful and important in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory disorders such as neutrophilia, eosinophilia, and in distinguishing tumour-caused fever from infectious fever in malignant lymphomas. Cytokines are critical to the functional both innate (cell-mediated) and adaptive (antigen specific/humoral) immune systems. They are known as either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory. Pro-inflammatory cytokines include interferon-gamma (INFγ), interleukin-2 (IL2) and interleukin-12 (IL12); whereas interleukin-4 (IL4) and interleukin-5 (IL5) are anti-inflammatory.
