The only thing this blog will be selling is knowledge and hopefully, a better understanding of how our immune system works, “for better and for worse” (sound like a marriage!). The system is “our best friend and worst enemy.” Such contradictory statements begin to explain the title of the book, The Paradox of the Immune System. My goal was to translate the extensive research I had done on the inconsistencies, paradoxes if you will, of the immune system and identify them and “try to explain” them in the context of their biomedical relevance. Of course, I hoped to reach the broadest audience possible with the information, knowing however that the material may be at too high a level for some readers with limited or no medical or science background.
As I wrote the book, I wrestled constantly with the fact and frustration that my hope of reaching that broader audience with such complex material was likely unattainable. So I decided to do an abridged version of the book as a “user friendly” blog for the less technically oriented, but no less interested reader. Among my career literary successes and flops, producing this “user friendly” companion blog to Paradox proved to be right near the bottom. The first person I asked to review the blog was a physician (who had also reviewed the book) and he felt the blog did a good job of capturing the essence and key information in the book. I then asked a second person (with limited biomedical background) to read the blog and the response was a bemused ”dear in the headlights” look. My goal of a Plan B had tanked.
One of my most trusted mentors in immunology, Dr. Howard Young of NIH (who had already mentioned my blog content as being too technical for a lay audience) suggested that he ask one of his Ph.D. students to review the blog and make any constructive suggestions he might feel worthwhile. Not surprising, a student, Adam Fairris, came back with the assessment, “good technical content, but hopelessly out of reach for anybody less than Ph.D. level (student or postdoc) immunologist. Adam kindly volunteered to do a rewrite of one of the early blogs (#2) which he proceeded to do brilliantly. Using his writing style as my model, I attempted a rewrite of a couple of blogs and asked for his opinion. When he commended them as “…so much easier to read”, it was my Hallelujah moment! I was off and running and am now humbled and honored, on behalf of Dr. Young and Adam, to present what I’m calling the “Layperson Version" of www.ImmuneParadox.com Blog.
And so, depending on your background and interest, I present to you 3 options:
1. The “Layperson Version” of the www.ImmuneParadox.com blog, a discussion on immunology at a lay level with minimal technical jargon and terminology;
2. The “Science Version“ of the www.ImmuneParadox.com blog” with key scientific information from the book, The Paradox of the Immune System; and
3. The fully, unabridged, 300-page book, The Paradox of the Immune System.
The blog contains 45 segments (Posts) which parallel the 7 chapters of the book, divided into 2 sections: Section 1, “Our friendly immune system” covering the basic science of immunology in 3 chapters; and Section 2, “The enemy within us” dealing with the dark side of the immunology in the remaining 4 chapters. The blog Posts cover the most interesting and relevant highlights from each of the seven chapters in the book along with interspersed additional blogs on essential topics when and where appropriate. I have also included a few questions (in the “Science Version” blog) relating to the respective Post’s information for you to ponder and/or respond to and comment on in the blog’s webpage (Forum), if you would like. If you request or if a response is indicated, I will do so.
Before we start on Chapter 1, I would like to describe three themes that will be developed through all the collective blogs. I had planned to develop only one of the themes (on chronic inflammation) when I wrote the book, but I did not realize that, in taking a “deeper dive” than I had ever done into the science and mechanics of the immune system, the second and third themes pretty much developed surreptitiously and caused me to do a lot more research.
I’ll identify and describe the three themes in this first blog (a cliffhanger). Then in three consecutive subsequent blogs I’ll describe each theme in greater detail. Then through the chapter and relevant topic discussions I will interject aspects and considerations of each theme and their impact on our immune system. The three themes are:
1. The concept of chronic inflammation as the basis of “all” diseases (I’ll give a brief explanation of just what chronic inflammation is in Blog #2 and then expand on it in the subsequent blogs and chapter discussions);
2. The concept of all forms of stress (physiologic, physical, mental, emotional, environmental, and more) constituting the cause of all immune responses; and finally:
3. The unique features (“for better and for worse”) regarding the “bias” of the female immune system versus that of the male.
The first and second themes are rather new thinking regarding the immune system and will require a fair amount of explanation, logic, and justification for their unique, all-inclusive nature. The third theme regarding female immune “bias” is long recognized as a significant aspect of the human immune system. It is receiving extensive study and research, specifically because of the increasing prevalence of autoimmune diseases, primarily in women. Most of the blogs will address this female bias and its various dimensions including the ongoing science and new developments in this area of sex and gender immunology.
So, whether you choose the Layperson Version Blog; the Scientific Version Blog; or the book, The Paradox of the Immune System; I think you will agree that we have an enormous amount of information ahead of us for discussion and for your questions which you’ll be able to submit through the blog’s webpage. We’ll start that journey with our first theme regarding chronic inflammation.
One last personal note, if I may. I would like to dedicate this blog to two, heroes of mine, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a man most of you probably know and Dr. Howard Young, an NIH senior investigator, and a very special guy.
Today’s science of immunology and more so, humanity itself, is indebted to Dr. Anthony Fauci for his tireless, unselfish efforts in the development of the National Institute of Health, Laboratory of Immunoregulation in 1980 (along with Dr. Francis Collins, another hero for his work in the Human Genome Project); and Dr. Fauci’s Directorship of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1984 until 2023. His work in monoclonal antibodies, HIV-AIDs, Ebola research, autoimmune diseases, and certainly, his impassioned efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, is legendary. He is a 5’7” giant and a hero who stands head and shoulders above all of us who appreciate the science of immunology and his immeasurable contribution.
Second, I am disappointed that I got to know Dr. Howard Young so late in my life and career in immunology. He is an immunology researcher, scholar, and teacher and more so, he is an exceptional human being. His generous, unselfish, and kind manner bespeaks a heart and mind filled with caring and love. His impact on the science of immunology and so many who study it and love the science is immeasurable. Albeit brief, I weigh his friendship as a highlight of my years in science. Thank you.
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