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
Green
Tea Extract
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
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.
