IMMUNE ENHANCING EFFECTS OF NATURAL COMPOUNDS ON THE COMPROMISED
IMMUNE FUNCTION IN CANCER AND AID’S PATIENTS
Cancer rates increase when the immune system is suppressed from immunodeficiency diseases. Children with immunodeficiency diseases have an increased rate of lymphoma, leukemia and Hodgkin’s disease. HIV positive patients with immunosuppression have many types of cancer including Kaposi’s sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cervical cancer, and Hodgkin’s disease. Organ transplant patients and autoimmune disease patients have an increased incidence of cancer due to the use of immunosuppressive drugs. Researchers believe the immune system plays an important role in prevention of cancer by recognizing, and destroying cancer cells. The use of natural compounds in the treatment of cancer and AIDS is growing throughout the world. Most of these compounds have low toxicity and benefit the whole patient.
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
- The immune system is amazingly complex. For ease of description, it can be divided into two parts; humoral activity, concerned primarily with production of antibodies, and cellular immunity, involving the interaction of multiple cells that process information, recognize “self” and “other”, and effectively destroy foreign invaders.
- With regards to HIV infection, we are primarily concerned with immune cells and proteins coating the outside of the cells and proteins coating the outside of the cells which are the target of the HIV virus. This protein, CD4, is on several cells of the immune system.
- The cell with the highest concentration of CD4 is named the CD4+ T cell. The CD8+ cell is also rich in CD4 protein.
- The CD4+ cell is the primary target of HIV but all the other cells exhibiting the CD4 protein are also adversely affected.
- The primary function of the CD4+ cell is as a helper cell that facilitates the functions of many other cells of the immune system.
- CD8+ cells are the NK, natural killer cells, which recognize and destroy cells presented to them that are coated with foreign proteins. They may also suppress immune responses. Initially, in the acute HIV infection, CD8+ cell numbers increase as the immune system is activated. Also acutely, the number of CD8+ cells may remain elevated or return to normal levels. Apparently, overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of viral particles, large populations of CD8+ cells simply disappear followed by a decrease in absolute numbers of CD8+ T lymphocytes as the disease enters the chronic phase.
- CD16+/CD56+ cells are another subpopulation of NK cells with the function of destroying foreign invaders.
- Arrest of development or failure of function of one or more of these T Cell subsets may result in immunodeficiency or autoimmune diseases.
- Normally, the immune system remains in a state of equilibrium, becoming active when presented with an invading organism. When the threat is cleared by an intact immune system, it returns to a state of normalcy.
- The HIV infected immune system is chronically activated. Chronic exposure of the immune system to a particular viral invader over an extended period may ultimately lead to an inability to sustain an adequate immune response to that invader. Furthermore, the ability of the immune system to respond to a broad spectrum of viruses and other threats may be compromised if the immune system is in a state of chronic activation.
PROCANCER EVENTS
John Boik states in his book “Natural Compounds In Cancer Therapy” that there are seven procancer events in the development of cancer. These events are:
- Induction of genetic stability
- Abnormal expression of genes
- Abnormal signal induction
- Abnormal cell-to-cell communication
- Induction of angiogenesis
- Invasion and metastasis
- Immune invasion
In order for a product, whether it is a pharmaceutical or a natural product, to be optimally effective it must inhibit these seven procancer events. The actions that inhibit these seven procancer events are:
- Reduction of genetic instability
- Inhibition of abnormal expression of genes
- Inhibition of abnormal signal transduction
- Encouragement of normal cell-to cell communication
- Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis
- Inhibition of invasion and metastasis
- Restoration of the immune system
INSULIN, ESTROGEN, TESTOSTERONE and CANCER
There is a positive correlation between the proliferation of cancer cells and the production of insulin, sex hormones, and lactic acid. As cancer cells proliferate, local inflammation and chaotic cellular development occurs, which causes a low-oxygen (hypoxic) environment. This local hypoxic state causes the excess production of lactic acid and inefficient utilization of glucose, which in turn stimulates angiogenesis (new blood vessels) to try to feed the area with more glucose and oxygen. The cancer cells consume glucose at a rate 3 to 5 times higher than normal cells. As cancer cells proliferate, serum glucose levels increase causing an increase of serum insulin levels. Insulin has also been shown in cancer cell cultures to be a growth factor, which causes proliferation of the cell growth. Inhibition of the abnormal production of lactic acid and insulin is an important aspect of any cancer treatment.
Hormones, especially estrogen and testosterone, have shown to be a cancer growth factor, not only for reproductive organs (breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers), but for other types of cancers (pancreatic, lymphatic, skin, kidney, colon and lung cancers) as well. Normalizing of hormone production is therefore an important objective of a cancer treatment.
NATURAL COMPOUNDS, CANCER and HIV
A number of natural compounds have been show to possess properties that are useful in the treatment of cancer and HIV. Obviously those compounds that have the greatest number of properties that inhibit the seven procancer events would be the most desirable and effective to use. Research has also shown that inhibition of the seven procancer events will also inhibit HIV virus proliferation by inhibiting the virus absorption process, cell-to-cell fusion, virus growth, virus transmission, and immune stimulation.
Compounds that have been shown to have a broad effect in treating cancer and HIV are:
A flavonoid from the Passion Flower that has antioxidant effects
Inhibits 6 of the 7 procancer events
Enhances Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) cytotoxicity to cancer cells
Inhibits abnormal hormone action, binds estrogen receptors, alters steroid hormone metabolism, normalizes testosterone and other androgen levels
Inhibits HIV expression and invasion in cell cultures, inhibits HIV-1 transactivation, exhibits anti –HIV activity
Coriolus Versicolor
A Chinese herbal mushroom with anticancer effects
Potently stimulates the immune system
Increases the cytotoxicity of natural killer cells
Inhibits the invasion of cancer cells (metastasis and local proliferation)
Inhibits 4 of the 7 procancer events
Increases survival rates in post chemotherapy cancer patients
Provides and anti-viral agent for HIV therapy
Diindolymethane (DIM)
DIM is a phytochemical from cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage)
Provides a strong anti-estrogen effect on cancer cells
Inhibits adhesion, motility, and invasiveness of cancer cells
Inhibits 5 of the 7 procancer events
Resveratrol
Non-flavonoid phenolic compound found in grapes
Acts as an antioxidant
Inhibits platelet aggregation and reduces inflammation
Inhibits 6 of the 7 procancer events
Inhibits insulin resistance
Inhibits abnormal estrogen action
Produces anti-HIV activity: inhibits viral replication and proliferation
Turmeric Extract (Curcumin)
Acts as a potent antioxidant
Strong anti inflammatory
Inhibits insulin resistance
Inhibits cancer cell proliferation in vitro
Inhibits metastasis in vivo
Inhibits 5 of the 7 procancer events
Inhibits Tat-mediated transactivation of type 1 human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat. Tat is a protein secreted by the HIV1-infected cells that may have additional action on the pathogenesis of AIDS
Quercetin
A flavonoid that induces cell apoptosis
Strong antioxidant
Strong anti-inflammatory that stabilizes basophils and mast cells
Reduces cholesterol and LDL
Inhibits 6 of the 7 procancer events
A flavonoid containing epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the primary anticancer agent
Acts as an antioxidant
In-vitro and in-vivo anticancer activity
Inhibits 6 of 7 procancer events
Inhibits activities of HIV-1 transcripts
L-Selenium Methionine
The organic form of selenium, which is better utilized by the body
Acts as an antioxidant
Inhibits 6 of the 7 procancer events
In-vitro and in-vivo studies show anticancer effects
Strong immune stimulator
Helps restore plasma selenium levels that are low in cancer and HIV patients
Other Ingredients: Water, Liposomal Matrix (Lecithin Complex with Phosphadidyl Choline and Phosphatidylserine), Natural Flavors, Stevia, Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (as preservatives)
SYNERGISM
Synergism benefits cancer therapy resulting in lower dosages of drugs or compounds. Many natural compounds need synergism with other compounds to be effective against cancer, HIV, and other immunodeficiency diseases. It is best to use several natural compounds together in a mixture to enhance the synergetic action of each compound.
LIPOSOMAL DELIVERY SYSTEM
The unique property of a liposomal delivery system is a higher cellular uptake and a prolonged circulation of therapeutic agents. Use of a liposomal delivery system is essential to maximize the actions of natural compounds.
CONCLUSION
It is apparent in reviewing the research that the proper mixture of natural compounds applied at a therapeutic level, combined with the appropriate delivery system, can effectively allow your body to reverse the destructive capacities of cancer, HIV, and other immunodeficiency diseases.
