Why does treating CCI/Spinal Stenosis, etc. increase NK cells?

[ebethc]

Jeff W noted that his NK Cells went up after surgery.... Does anyone know or have a hypothesis re why this is? e.g., Does treating cervical problems increase the cerebrospinal fluid, which, in turn has "X" effect on the immune system / brain inflammation, etc.? I don't really know where to begin or what to search, so I would really appreciate any insight...

also, wondering and hoping that Jarred Younger addresses this at the symposium.. He seems like the most likely candidate to have a good hypothesis (or two)..

thanks

 

[Pyrrhus]

There’s actually a pretty simple explanation for what @jeff_w experienced:

1) Any sort of stress, including brainstem compression, will activate the sympathetic nervous system.

2) One of the natural effects of activation of the sympathetic nervous system is suppression of NK cell activity.

3) Since NK cell activity is the immune system’s main defense against reactivation of herpesviruses, you can see reactivation of herpesviruses if the sympathetic nervous system is activated long enough. This is why people get cold sores during long periods of stress.

4) When the stress is stopped, the sympathetic nervous system will de-activate, NK cell activity will increase, and herpesviruses will be re-suppressed.

Hope this helps.

 

[ebethc]

2) One of the natural effects of activation of the sympathetic nervous system is suppression of NK cell activity.

thanks! this part in particular is interesting... I've been trying to understand if there's any way to increase NK's, but I should be looking at ways to calm S.N.S.

 

[valentinelynx]

@pattismith posted a link to a study from the Journal of Neurosurgery (August 2018) called "Persons with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Have Decreased Natural Killer Cell and Increased Toll-Like Receptor/Inflammatory Gene Expression." From this finding it's not hard to see why correcting a chronic source of insult to the spinal cord or brainstem could reverse whatever it is about CNS injury that is depressing NK cell number and function.

 

[pattismith]

Just want to add that sympathetic activation (and parasympathetic inhibition) can also produce cardiac arythmia:

https://forums.phoenixrising.me/thr...-in-patients-with-cervical-spondylosis.77329/

Anxiety also produces sympathetic activation, this is the reason why lots of doc think anxiety first when cervical compression should be ruled out.