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The immune system is a collection of mechanisms within an organism that protects against infection by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasitic worms, and distinguishes them from the organism's normal cells and tissues.
The immune system is comprised of two main systems: the innate immune system and the acquired system. The acquired immune system is further differentiated into two systems: the humoral immune system and the cell-mediated immune system.
Both these parts of the immune system are changeable and possess fundamental adaptive mechanisms to better attack the invading antigen.
It is the humoral immune system which creates immunological memories from encounters with pathogens. It is this capacity of the humoral system to “remember” encounters with particular pathogens which is the basis for vaccinations. It is the cell-mediated immune system which is the “first line of defense” in the organism.
The ingredients in APF have been clinically shown to increase the absolute numbers of T-cells and NK cells, and to improve the beneficial activity of these cells.* Because APF is an immuno-modulator instead of an immuno-stimulant, it balances the immune system, regardless of the direction of disruption, and can be used daily to build a better, healthier immune system in all horses from foals to geriatric pets.
APF has been successfully used to increase immune response in immuno-suppressed individuals, as well as to significantly reduce allergic symptoms in horses with a hyper-active immune response.
*Stull, C.L., Spier, S.J., et al, “Immunological response to long-term transport stress in mature horses and effects of adaptogenic dietary supplementation as an immunomodulator.” Equine Vet. J. (2004) 36(7)583-589
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