Growth factors are responsible, among other things, for assisting both the T-cells and NK cells in our immune system. T-cells are responsible for calming an immune response, while NK cells are responsible for ramping up that response. We need both, but when NK cells aren’t “turned off” or T-cells aren’t “turned on,” pain and inflammation are often the result.

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When growth factors are delivered directly into an affected joint, they start signaling to the cells to return to healthy function. They send proteins into the walls of the cells telling the cells how to regulate themselves. There are two stages to the body’s response. In the first stage, which happens almost immediately, the inflammation response is turned off. In the second stage, the growth factors basically tell the cells how to regulate themselves correctly in the future, leading to long-term relief.