Posted on 07/31/2009 12:36:25 PM PDT by neverdem
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Crack open the latest medical textbook to the chapter on type 2 diabetes and you'll be hard pressed to find the term "immunology" anywhere. Metabolic conditions and immunologic conditions are, with a few exceptions, thought to be distant cousins. Recent studies, however, two of which are from Harvard Medical School researchers, have linked type 2 diabetes with immunology in a way that might persuade researchers to start viewing them as siblings.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes both involve abnormalities in the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas, but their root causes are completely different. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the pancreas, destroying its ability to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is a strictly metabolic condition in which cells grow increasingly deaf to insulin signals and thus lose their ability to metabolize glucose. In both cases, blood glucose levels rise, sometimes to fatal levels.
Researchers used two common over-the-counter allergy medications to reduce both obesity and type 2 diabetes in mice. The medications, called Zaditor and cromolyn, stabilize a population of inflammatory immune cells called mast cells.
The Harvard researchers assert that it is becoming increasingly clear that we should also think of type 2 diabetes in the context of immune function. Guo-Ping Shi, biochemist from the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, began to suspect such a connection when, in a previous study, he found mast cells present in a variety of inflammatory vascular diseases.
Mast cells are immune cells that facilitate healing in wounded tissue by increasing blood flow to the site. In certain conditions, however, mast cells build up to levels far beyond what the body needs. When this happens, these cells become unstable and eventually, like punctured trash bags, leak molecular "garbage" into the tissue. This results in chronic inflammation that can cause asthma and certain allergies.
As Shi and postdoctoral research fellow Jian Liu discovered, mast cells were far more abundant in fat tissue of obese and diabetic humans and mice than they were in fat tissue from individuals of normal weight. This led to the obvious question, by regulating mast cells, could we then control the obesity and diabetic symptoms?
To find out, Shi and colleagues took a group of obese and diabetic mice and, for a period of two months, treated them with either Zaditor or cromolyn.
The mice were divided into four groups. The first was the control group. The second group was simply switched to a healthy diet. The third was given cromolyn or Zaditor. And the fourth group was given the drug and switched to a healthy diet.
While symptoms of the second “healthy diet” group improved moderately, the third “allergy medicine” group demonstrated dramatic improvements in both body weight and diabetes. The fourth group exhibited nearly 100 percent recovery in all areas.
To bolster these findings, Shi and colleagues then took a group of mice whose ability to produce mast cells was genetically impaired. Despite three months of a diet rich in sugar and fat, these mice neither became obese nor developed diabetes. "The best thing about these drugs is that we know it's safe for people," said Shi. "The remaining question now is: Will this also work for people?" Shi now intends to test both cromolyn and Zaditor on obese and diabetic non-human primates.
SOURCE: Nature Medicine, July 26, 2009
He has had very little allergy problems till recently and he is 74. He has the diabetes pretty much under control but not the sinus allergy. Nothing helps.
Some clarity about Mast cells.
“A mast cell (or mastocyte) is a resident cell of several types of tissues and contains many granules rich in histamine and heparin. Although best known for their role in allergy and anaphylaxis, mast cells play an important protective role as well, being intimately involved in wound healing and defense against pathogens.”
Mast cells are part of the bodies fat, and the more fat you have, the more mast cells you have. However, when mast cells are irritated, they release histamines into the body. Think of a mild allergic reaction.
This irritation tend to aggravate immune system disorders like diabetes and arthritis, and a bunch of others. And the irritation tends to prolong the irritation of the mast cells. Irritated mast cells irritate themselves.
Plus, importantly, irritated mast cells tell the body to store more fat.
So rheumatologists are now advising their patients to lose weight, because this will reduce the number of mast cells, and thus the irritation to their arthritis.
But this is kind of putting the cart before the horse, because it will be extra hard to lose weight with irritated mast cells.
This is where these drugs come in to play. They are antihistamines for the mast cells. They soothe the mast cells, so they stop dumping histamines. And your body, instead of trying to put on more weight, realizes it is overweight, and tries to shed pounds and return to a more normal weight.
Importantly, the scientists didn’t say *how much* of these drugs was needed for the effect.
But assuming they are about the same strength, the Zaditor’s active ingredient, Ketotifen, is .025% strength, which is equivalent to ketotifen fumarate at .035%.
NasalCrom (I couldn’t help but laugh. The preferred nasal spray of barbarians). Cromolyn sodium, at 40 milligrams per milliliter.
But before you run right out and chug-a-lug either of these drugs, it is important to note:
“Cromolyn sodium is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. After instillation of cromolyn sodium nasal solution, less than 7% of the total dose administered is absorbed and is rapidly excreted unchanged in the bile and urine. The remainder of the dose is expelled from the nose, or swallowed and excreted via the alimentary tract.”
I never heard that. That’s intriguing.
What’s the source of that article?
Does it specify which anti-histamines work the best or doesn’t the body care?
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The article didn’t go into particulars. The only reason these two are used is because they are both specifically mast cell inhibitors. There’s about 150 different chemicals in a histamine response, and lots of different histamine inhibitors.
For example, a primary histamine-1 inhibitor is Benedryl, that people normally use for allergic reactions. A primary histamine-2 inhibitor is Tagamet, which is used for acid reflux.
Ibuprofen (Advil), inhibits prostaglandin, which is yet another histamine, responsible for some types of pain and inflammation.
So mast cell inhibitors are just another one of the group. But they may be a critical one, for both several inflammatory diseases and for weight gain.
OK im taking this to my doctor and finding out what he can do for me ill be a test pig if it will help me get rid of my type 2 and a little weight its worth a shot ...
The reason they worked for appetite suppression was the sudafed, not the antihistamine component. As far as I know straight antihistamines have not been used for appetite suppression - their other popular use is as a sleep aid.
These are actually not antihistamins, but mast cell stabilizers. Different class.
I have some very incapacitating food reactions that my doctors just cannot figure out. My allergist says they are not food allergies. I’ve been tested for food allergies and wheat, which I test fairly allergic to, doesn’t bother me at all in the classic allergic response. However , it has a strong tendency to make me put on weight. This article could very well explain the mechanism of why a food allergy would manifest as weight gain.
Foods that I don’t test allergic to, give me the most trouble, and that’s about everything.
My symptoms are not your classic food allergy symptoms, hives, swelling, asthma, and do not seem not responsive to the most common anti-histamines. If I don’t take the anti-histamines, the symptoms go away on there own in the same time as if I take them.
The symptoms act like allergies in that the more I eat of the particular food, the worse the symptoms get. OTOH, unlike classic food allergies where avoidance lessens the symptoms upon re- exposure, once I react to a food, it seems to stay.
In addition, while the immune response is supposed to lessen with age, these symptoms have been continuing to get worse, to the point that there’s very little left for me to eat. Fortunately, those foods are highly nutritious, but it sure is no fun way to live.
I have been researching this as much as possible myself because unless it’s life and death, it’s near impossible to get a doctor to co-operate in tracking something down that doesn’t neatly fit into what they know.
I strongly suspect now, that while my reactions are not classic hives, swelling, etc, they are a different part of the inflammatory response. This mast cell component is something I’m going to bring up with my allergist next time I see him.
I think I’ve tried Tagamet and have bad side effects from it.
Nexium works better for when my reflux acts up.
I’ve often wondered if reflux could be a part of an allergic response but was told no. If that’s not the case, however, then why would an anti-histamine help with reflux?
What drugs are those that you're referring to?
Ping
Are you familiar with a serum tryptase (sp?) test is and what it measures?
What you have sounds somewhat like Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), that is disdained by the medical community, but happens with increasing frequency in people previously unfamiliar with the syndrome.
Six consensus criteria were identified by researchers for the diagnosis and definition of MCS in 1989 (later edited in 1999)
1. Symptoms are reproducible with repeated (chemical) exposures.
2. The condition has persisted for a significant period of time.
3. Low levels of exposure (lower than previously or commonly tolerated) result in manifestations of the syndrome (i.e. increased sensitivity).
4. The symptoms improve or resolve completely when the triggering chemicals are removed.
5. Responses often occur to multiple chemically unrelated substances.
6. Symptoms involve multiple-organ symptoms (runny nose, itchy eyes, headache, scratchy throat, ear ache, scalp pain, mental confusion or sleepiness, palpitations of the heart, upset stomach, nausea and/or diarrhea, abdominal cramping, aching joints).
When I eat most foods, especially vegetables and fruits, grains not so much, I get a great many of those symptoms.
It starts as lightheadedness and heart pounding. There’s intestinal discomfort, muscle weakness, and extreme fatigue to the point that I HAVE TO lay down. I feel somewhat short of breath but have never been able to determine that it’s due to asthma since I have never had any wheezing.
The symptoms come on very suddenly and subside just as suddenly, on their own, more quickly if I’m laying down, regardless of whether I take anti-histamines or not. Matter of fact, it seems that I feel better sooner by not taking them.
I’ve checked my blood pressure and heart rate at these times and thy are elevated somewhat but not a lot.
I also break out very easily from fruits and vegetables and hydrocoritisone ointment is the only thing that seems to help but the rash does not seem to be connected to the other reaction.
I usually don’t feel well most of the time and do not enjoy eating any more. I eat to survive, that’s all.
Importantly, is it just foods, or do you have other chemical sensitivities?
It would be good to do a survey of your home, to look for possible other causes, like toxic black mold; rodents and birds, whose dropping can sometimes cause serious problems. The air ducts in your home can also act as a breeding ground for spores and fungus.
I do have other chemical sensitivities, but I have kept a food diary, and the same foods cause the same reactions.
We have no carpeting in our house except for one flight of stairs and have encountered no black mold or anything.
We don’t have pets and mr.mm, who is very mechanical and aware of air quality issues (part of his job) keeps the heating ducts relatively clean.
But my exposure to those substances causes the more classic allergic response, sneezing, itchy nose, watery eyes, and are relieved with anti-histamines.
Interestingly, the smell of Windex, or exposure to Orange Glo on my hands seems to bring on the same symptoms that the foods do. Some fragrances make me sick to my stomach, which is a different reaction.
In the chemical sensitivity, what’s the body’s reaction that causes the symptoms, since it’s not allergic.
That’s a good question. But that condition can get fierce for those that have it. Even some motels and other accommodations now offer special rooms that have never been cleaned with synthetic cleaners, have no artificial perfumes or dyes, have all natural fibers, and very simple paints with no varnishes for wood.
Some go so far as to seal all concrete surfaces, and some of the people who have MCS get a response to concrete sealer, but not bare concrete. It’s a real puzzler, but the symptoms are very clear, and the people are clearly in distress.
http://www.multiplechemicalsensitivity.org/
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