COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 679
stressed4information that can significantly guide diagnosis,
treatment planning, and preventive strategies [19, 20].
The Architecture of the Immune System: Understanding
Lymphocyte Populations
To appreciate the value of the Lymphocyte MAP™, it's essential to
understand the organization and function of lymphocyte
populations:
T Lymphocytes (T-cells)
T lymphocytes develop in the thymus and serve as the primary
orchestrators of cell-mediated immunity [21, 22]. They can be
further divided into multiple specialized subpopulations:
CD4+ T Helper Cells (Th cells)
These cells coordinate immune responses by activating other
immune cells through cytokine signaling and direct cell-to-cell
interactions [23, 24]
CD8+ Cytotoxic T Cells (Tc cells)
Cells that directly kill virus-infected cells, cancer cells, and other
compromised cells [25, 26]
Regulatory T Cells (Tregs)
Specialized CD4+ cells that suppress immune responses and
maintain self-tolerance [27, 28]
Memory T Cells
Long-lived cells that remember past infections and respond
rapidly to repeat exposures [29, 30]
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