Gut bacteria linked to autoimmune disease

[lolo1979]

Has anyone seen this??!   The latest science is showing that certain "bad" gut bacteria induces autoimmune disease by inducing Th17 cells, which produce an inflammatory cascade throughout the body. Incidentally, it's the Th17 cells that they're currently working on a new treatment against.  Novartis has clinical trials going on for a drug that blocks these Th17 cells, which would theoretically slow or stop the progression of MS. These same Th17 cells (I think they are also referred to as IL-17) are also implicated in most all the other autoimmune diseases such as RA, Crohns, etc, and incidentally they are NOT linked to levels of autoantibodies.  This would explain why some are seronegative.  This would also explain why certain diets have proven beneficial to autoimmune diseases. And it makes sense, since 80% of our immune system is located in the small intestine.

There is also research showing that vitamin D3 binds to IL-17 receptors and help 'downregulate' it, as well as turning off the gene that expresses it, thus stopping the inflammatory cascade.  If anyone else knows anything more about this, feel free to add! Here are the links (which are all pretty recent, within the last year or so):

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100719162643.htm

http://www.ibridgenetwork.org/harvard/specific-gut-residing-bacteria-drives-autoimmune-arthritis-vi

Vitamin D link:
http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/vitamin-d-pathway-found-fighting-ms

[Joe S.]

I knew that there was a reason to take D3.

[lindaneall]

This is very interesting. Just this weekend someone told me about this and the benefits of long term antibiotic use. Her son has anklylosing spondylitis  and has greatly improved this last year. She shared the following info. with me.


Also there is a forum online of individuals who have undergone antibiotic treatment with remarkable results. http://www.roadback.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.main.html

This is what that website says initially on the home page:
You have reached a unique resource. The Road Back Foundation's (RBF) Website includes information and support regarding an important and often overlooked treatment option for rheumatic and related diseases. The particular focus here is antibiotic therapy, proven safe and effective in NIH-sponsored clinical trials. Thousands of patients have reported successfully using antibiotics for conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, dermatomyositis, ankylosing spondylitis, Lyme disease, Reiter's syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis. Results of an international survey of patients documented dramatic results including relief of pain, the lessening of swollen joints and an overall successful return of quality of life.*

She also told me about a book by Henry Scammell called "The New Arthritis Breakthrough".  From what I understand, this is also based on the theory that bad gut bacteria induces autoimmune diseases.  I haven't had time to research this all for myself yet, but I thought it was very interesting that someone else had shared this info. with me.

[Bella]

Thanks for posting The Road Back website link.  I found that really interesting.

Thanks for the articles on certain gut bacteria possibly inducing autoimmune disease, Lolo.

I always learn so much from this website!

[jazzlover]

This is very interesting. Just this weekend someone told me about this and the benefits of long term antibiotic use. Her son has anklylosing spondylitis  and has greatly improved this last year. She shared the following info. with me.


Also there is a forum online of individuals who have undergone antibiotic treatment with remarkable results. http://www.roadback.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.main.html

This is what that website says initially on the home page:
You have reached a unique resource. The Road Back Foundation's (RBF) Website includes information and support regarding an important and often overlooked treatment option for rheumatic and related diseases. The particular focus here is antibiotic therapy, proven safe and effective in NIH-sponsored clinical trials. Thousands of patients have reported successfully using antibiotics for conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, dermatomyositis, ankylosing spondylitis, Lyme disease, Reiter's syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis. Results of an international survey of patients documented dramatic results including relief of pain, the lessening of swollen joints and an overall successful return of quality of life.*

She also told me about a book by Henry Scammell called "The New Arthritis Breakthrough".  From what I understand, this is also based on the theory that bad gut bacteria induces autoimmune diseases.  I haven't had time to research this all for myself yet, but I thought it was very interesting that someone else had shared this info. with me.

-
This is a site EVERYONE should read! (roadback)

[jazzlover]

Why don't they say what the bacteria are?? Did I miss that??

[12lovehim]

Hi All.. About 7 years ago I started reading about GMO food.. And last year I found this site I have listed.. If you combine these 2 studies I believe we have a real WHY... Having seen big Pharma, and Big Con-Agra work against the better good.. I really do wonder..

I don't want to sound like Chicken Little.. but my Parents entire families on both sides were farmers and Pickers.. My sister worked to start an organic non-gmo co-op in their upper class country town... The Feds showed  up and closed them down. Sighting unpaid taxes.. (the co-op had Dr's and lawyers as most of the operators.. My sister a Masters in Business..) So not true.. but they were an extremely successfully organic non-gmo branded co-op.. I say this to point out.. Charges were dropped shortly after all the food in the co-op was no good anymore.. and all the Canned goods were taken for testing.. (really)

So I just say all this as we need to understand AI's and the purity of our intake.. and know that our Dr's will never mention the quality of our food, toxins we may generate because we have maybe a gentic disposition to do so.. How many of us have allergies to "fillers" in our meds?  I do.. So I can hardly handle any meds without random Rashes and Fevers..

http://www.responsibletechnology.org/blog/1412

Ok.. sorry about soap box.. but this thread just really proved to me something I have been thinking for a couple of years..

Blessings.. Keri

[Nat]

Thanks for posting this information lolo. I did read the Science Daily article. Here is a portion of the content.

"For their part, Th17 cells are needed for the immune system to properly combat infection. Problems only arise when the cells are activated in the absence of infection -- just as disease can arise, Mazmanian and others suspect, when the species composition of gut bacteria become imbalanced, say, by changes in diet, because of improved hygiene (which kills off the beneficial bacteria as well as the dangerous ones), or because of stress or antibiotic use. One impact of the dysregulation of normal gut bacterial populations -- a phenomenon dubbed "dysbiosis" -- may be the rising rate of multiple sclerosis seen in recent years in more hygienic societies."

They are stating that antibiotic use contributed to the elevation of Th17 cells by causing "dysbiosis".  Th17 cells are cytokines. They are a normal part of your immune system, much like tumor necrosis factor. The drug Humira was designed to target tumor necrosis factor, which is also elevated in Crohn's, RA and other autoimmune diseases. A study done at UCLA by by Dr. Paul Cheney also found SIBO or small intestine bacterial overgrowths in 90% of fibromyalgia and CFS patients. So, the question is, what is the connection between elevated cytokines (even without an infectious agent present) and an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria in the GI tract? What is responsible in the body for regulating cytokines and also for helping the immune system deal effectively with viruses and bacteria?