Your immune system is your body’s personal defense system, constantly surveying the landscape and always on alert against intruders (think viruses, bacteria, and allergens) that can harm you. When it spots a trespasser, it springs into action, signaling various cells and molecules that it’s time to attack. This leads to inflammation, a complex but normal biological response designed to eliminate the intruder and prevent further infection.1
However, sometimes this protective response overreacts and the body’s immune cells get into a constant feedback loop of excessive inflammation that winds up damaging parts of the body, like the skin or lungs. This immune overreaction to triggers like allergens, irritants or infections is called Type 2 inflammation (T2I).1
It starts when inflammatory proteins called cytokines, particularly interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (Il-5), and interleukin-13 (IL-13), swing into action. Their job is to stimulate special immune cells called T helper 2 (Th2) cells and type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), which, in turn, release more cytokines and signal to other immune system troops called eosinophils.2,3 The result is itching, mucous production, and damage to cells in the lungs, skin, airways, and parts of the digestive tract. The result is also a host of chronic diseases that can significantly affect your quality of life.3,4
The main symptoms of T2I based on the body system affected can include:4,7
Symptoms can be severe or mild. They might even disappear for months until something triggers them and then they’re back. However, you never know when they will return and, if they’re severe, they can dramatically affect your quality of life.4
All URLs Accessed February 5, 2025
