Cytokine Storm: What Happens When Your Immune System Overreacts?

As we move through 2020 and talk of COVID-19 is everywhere you turn, a healthy immune system is at the forefront of many people’s minds – and for good reason. 

When it comes to fighting off harmful infections like coronavirus, your immune system is the most effective weapon you have. Like a well-trained army, your immune system is designed to quickly spring into action at the “sound” of danger. 

And one of the key players responsible for “sounding the alarm” is interleukin-6 (IL-6). Today we’re going to dive into interleukin-6’s role in immune function –  and more importantly, how to keep your levels in check so your immune system runs at full force.

 

What is Interleukin-6?

IL-6 is a type of protein known as a cytokine. You see, your immune system is designed to protect you against potentially harmful microorganisms. It does this by having an army of immune cells constantly scouring your body for potential threats. When a threat is detected, your cells signal the immune cells to neutralize the foreign invader.

This immune response is dependent on effective communication between your cells. And one of the primary ways that your cells communicate with each other is through the secretion of small proteins known as cytokines. Cytokines are molecular messengers that signal cells to perform a certain action.1 IL-6 is one of the cytokines released when your body detects a foreign microbe or an injury.

Many cells have the ability to produce IL-6, but it’s mainly produced by your white blood cells, also known as leukocytes.2 Because it’s produced primarily by leukocytes, it makes sense that IL-6 plays an integral role in the immune response. 

Let’s take a look at the exact role IL-6 plays in the function of your immune system.

 

Interleukin-6’s Role in Immune Function

When released, IL-6 begins the “inflammatory cascade”, which is the sequential coordinated activation of your immune response. This is a very complex process, but essentially it’s similar to an assembly line – each step triggers another step to happen until there’s an end product.

Interestingly, IL-6 has both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects on the body depending on what cells are targeted and how much IL-6 is released. Some of interleukin-6’s effects on the immune system include:

• Stimulating other signaling proteins in the acute phase of inflammation – providing crucial communication so your body can launch an effective attack against the perceived threat3
• Aiding the body in resolving acute inflammation and returning to homeostasis. IL-6 helps control inflammation by essentially “capping” levels of other pro-inflammatory cytokines, thus preventing an overreaction of the immune system3
• Regulating the expression and differentiation of monocytes into macrophages – which are the cells that engulf harmful microorganisms so they can be removed by the body4
• Promoting B-cells production of antibodies – proteins produced by immune cells that recognize and bind to foreign invaders5

Interleukin-6’s crucial role in your body’s deployment of the immune response is quite complex. Considering that this cytokine has both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties, it might leave you wondering – so is interleukin-6 good or bad? 

 

So, is Interleukin-6 Good or Bad?

The answer to that question is – it’s complicated. IL-6 plays a key role in triggering inflammation and stimulating the immune response. And while the term inflammation gets a bad rap, you need inflammation in order to appropriately address and neutralize any potential threats. So in a balanced and healthy immune response, IL-6 is more than good, it’s absolutely crucial.

But problems can arise when IL-6 and other cytokine levels remain high for too long or when levels rise at a rapid pace and overwhelm the body. This causes inflammation to go unchecked and climb to dangerous levels.

This flooding of cytokines and overactivation of the immune system is actually what poses such a threat when it comes to certain infections – particularly in severe cases of COVID-19.

 

Interleukin-6 and COVID-19

While COVID-19’s exact mechanism of injury is still up for debate, research has found that COVID-19 cases that spiral into detrimental and critical levels all have something in common – an excess accumulation of cytokines and immune cells in the lung tissues. This exaggerated immune response and accumulation of cytokines and immune cells is known as a “cytokine storm.”

Severe stages of COVID-19 are characterized by extremely high levels of cytokines, including IL-6.6 This overzealous immune response and build-up of cytokines is in part what causes the acute respiratory distress seen in critical COVID-19 patients. 

So what can you do to keep your cytokine levels balanced and bolster your defenses against coronavirus?

 

Factors That Impact Interleukin-6 and Your Immune System

Currently, there’s no cure for COVID-19 and it’s likely this virus isn’t going away anytime soon. This means that keeping your immune system in tip-top shape is your best bet when it comes to protecting yourself against coronavirus. 

There are many factors that influence the health of your immune system and your IL-6 levels. And fortunately, you have control over most of these factors.

Keeping your IL-6 levels balanced requires an all-encompassing approach of prioritizing the health of your entire immune system. To keep your immune system functioning at its fullest capacity, here’s what I recommend: prioritizing sleep, eating well, and managing stress.

 

Prioritize Sleep

Sleep deprivation has been found to significantly increase pro-inflammatory markers and be a major contributor to chronic inflammation.7 Chronic inflammation is like kryptonite to your immune system. The long term stimulation overworks your immune system, burning it out and decreasing its ability to effectively protect you.

When it comes to sleep, you want to focus on both quantity and quality. Do your best to get a minimum of six hours of sleep each night – although seven to eight is ideal. To ensure your sleep is high-quality and restful sleep, I recommend:

• Keeping your room cool and dark
• Shutting off all electronics at least 30 minutes before bedtime
• Using a fan or white noise to block out any outside sounds that might disturb you

If you have a hard time falling or staying asleep, you can also try a natural sleep aid like Lipocalm – a powerful blend of natural compounds perfectly calibrated to help ease your body into deep restorative sleep.

 

Focus on a Healthy Diet

The food you eat is either pro- or anti-inflammatory. Pro-inflammatory foods cause chronic low-level inflammation that overworks and burns out your immune system. Over time, this can throw your whole system out of whack and dampen your immune system’s ability to appropriately respond to potential threats 

Consistently making the choice to eat a diet that is centered around anti-inflammatory foods is one of the most potent ways you can support your immune system. That doesn’t necessarily mean your diet has to be complicated. I recommend simply focusing on building your meals around wholesome, real foods like fresh veggies and fruits, high-quality meat, and healthy fats.

Manage Your Emotions 

Stress and negative emotions release a cocktail of hormones that can put a major damper on your immune system. In fact, some of the stress hormones can even temporarily shut down your immune system – leaving you vulnerable and throwing your immune system off-kilter. 

While stress and negative emotions are unavoidable, there are some simple ways you can incorporate more positive emotions in your life to balance out the negativity. Things like finding ways to prioritize connection with others, spending a few minutes meditating each day, and making time for fun and relaxation. This may seem unrelated to your ability to fight off infection, but they go a long way in keeping your immune system firing on all cylinders.

  

Incorporate Immune-Supporting Supplements

Supplements are a powerful and effective way to support your immune system. Some of the best supplements for promoting healthy and balanced immune function are:

 

• Omega Curcumin: A highly bioavailable and optimally absorbed blend of curcuminoid and turmeric extracts help your body modulate cytokine production to maintain a healthy and balanced immune response.

 

• Buffered C Powder: Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant known for its critical role in proper immune function.
• Vitamin D3: Vitamin D plays a key role in immune system function and modulation and a deficiency has been directly linked to weakened immune function. 
• Probiotics: The health of your gut and the health of your immune system are intricately lin
• ked and many of your immune cells reside in your gut. Regularly introducing beneficial gut flora, ensures your gut and immune system stay balanced.
• N-Acetyl Cysteine: N-Acetyl Cysteine is a necessary ingredient for your body to make important antioxidants like glutathione that keep your immune system healthy. 

Manage Your Emotions 

Stress and negative emotions release a cocktail of hormones that can put a major damper on your immune system. In fact, some of the stress hormones can even temporarily shut down your immune system – leaving you vulnerable and throwing your immune system off-kilter. 

 

While stress and negative emotions are unavoidable, there are some simple ways you can incorporate more positive emotions in your life to balance out the negativity. Things like finding ways to prioritize connection with others, spending a few minutes meditating each day, and making time for fun and relaxation. This may seem unrelated to your ability to fight off infection, but they go a long way in keeping your immune system firing on all cylinders.  

Staying Safe Amidst COVID-19

Your immune system is a complicated network intricately connected to every other organ and system in your body. Understanding the role of cytokines like IL-6 is important, but in order to truly maximize your immune system, it takes a big picture approach. Prioritizing your overall health and well-being is one of the most effective ways you can bolster your defenses against harmful germs like coronavirus.

And when it comes to your health, I always say that you are your own best advocate. That’s why I’m dedicated to bringing you the resources you need to stay informed and maximize your health. If you’re ready to dive a little deeper and get all of my best recommendations on staying healthy from the inside out, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter. You’ll get exclusive content and all of my best tips delivered straight to your inbox. Just type in your name and email address below!

Now it’s time to hear from you. Were you surprised to learn about interleukin-6’s role in inflammation? What are you doing to prioritize your immune health? Leave your questions and thoughts in the comments below!

 

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2785020/
2. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/interleukin-6
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3226076/
4. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01057/full
5. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijr/2011/721608/
6. http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n11.shtml
7. https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/1476-511X-9-125