Chapter from “The GSH Handbook” by Dr. Jimmy Gutman GSH AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM THE IMMUNE SYSTEM It’s surprising how many people still believe that catching a cold is the result of sitting in a draft or going out with wet hair. It is a simple and well-established fact that the common cold is a contagious, transmittable disease. We don’t catch colds from cold air, in spite of the disease’s name. Both the expression and the misconception are deeply ingrained in our culture. But it is exposure to the actual virus that causes illness. Others might blame their cold on being stressed out, overworked or having exercised too much. They are much closer to the truth. Although these factors in themselves do not cause a cold, they do make us more susceptible to the cold virus. By overdoing it, these patients have temporarily diminished their immune resources and suffer the consequences – the virus overpowers them. Most visits to the doctor follow the failure of the immune system to deal with a particular threat. The good news is, the immune system can be reinforced. Few people are aware of this, even those who consciously work at their well-being. Many of us know well enough how to take care of the heart and muscles, but only a few pay attention to the immune system, even though this is our front line defense against all infectious and destructive attacks. To maintain a good immune response we should exercise regularly (45 to 60 minutes, 3 times weekly), eat regular and varied meals, maintain an ideal body weight, sleep regularly (8 hours for young adult, less for elderly), supplement our diet with vitamins, minerals and micronutrients, avoid undue stress and, funnily enough, laugh a lot. We should also avoid radiation and toxins, abuse of tobacco, alcohol and caffeine and the unnecessary use of antibiotics and steroids. See figure 10. The immune defense is an extraordinarily sophisticated system. A microscopic examination of any part of the human body shows it teeming with microorganisms such as bacteria, parasites and fungi, and that’s just inside us. The environment from which we get our air, water and food is also saturated with microorganisms. It is amazing that we survive at all. Traditionally, we consult a physician only when a disease has actually taken hold. Often, the doctor launches an offensive or ‘attack’ strategy with antibiotics, antiviral compounds or chemotherapy in an attempt to exterminate the invader. Despite drug side-effects and other drawbacks this offensive strategy has proven widely effective. It’s the best way we’ve found to fight the war. But it’s preferable to avoid the war altogether. After all, the battleground is your body. Even when medicine wins, the carnage remains. Drug side-effects and chemotherapy after-effects are like the random destruction of war in which innocent bystanders die. We can’t overemphasize the usefulness of a defensive strategy – a preventive medicine that prevents invaders from establishing a beachhead and avoids all-out conflict. An optimized immune system is without question the best prevention. We can do this by nurturing and feeing it just as we tend to the rest of our body. For more information or to order a copy of the complete GSH Handbook by Dr. Jimmy Gutman, MD, contact CellularHealth Foundation (866)728.8865 or send email to info@cellularhealth.org - website: www.cellularhealth.org -
Chapter from “The GSH Handbook” by Dr. Jimmy Gutman
THE IMMUNE RESPONSE The immune response seeks out, identifies, and attack threatening microorganisms, allergens, cancer cells and grafted tissue – collectively called antigens. The body’s reaction is called an antigen response. When a pathogen enters the blood stream, immune cells are activated. There are several types, including the polymorphonuclear cells that form pus. These large cells simply engulf pathogens and digest them. The smaller but much more sophisticated lymphocytes deal with pathogens by adapting a specific defense to them.
• • • • • • •
Figure 10 – The do’s and don’ts of immune system maintenance DO DON’T Exercise regularly (45-60 min., 3 • Abuse tobacco times weekly) • Abuse alcohol Eat regular & varied meals • Abuse caffeine Maintain ideal body weight • Use antibiotics inappropriately Sleep regularly (8 hours for young • Use steroids inappropriately adult, less for elderly) • Expose yourself to radiation Supplement your diet with • Expose yourself to toxins vitamins, minerals & micronutrients Avoid undue stress Laugh a lot
B-cell lymphocytes identify pathogens and mark them as targets for T-cell lymphocytes. Helper T-cells alert immune cells to join the battle, killer T-cells destroy the intruder and suppressor T-cells switch off the immune response when the job is done. The healthy immune response can become compromised, however. There may not be enough immune cells, the cells themselves may be incompetent, or they may be overwhelmed by a particularly aggressive pathogen. In many cases, the adaptive side of the immune system identifies and subsequently remembers the chemical signature of a pathogen and is able to handle it more effectively the next time around. This leads to partial or complete immunity. For example, you only catch the measles once. The immune system is impressive, but not infallible. It can sometimes respond to threats as if they were non-threats and to normal metabolic functions as if they were attacks on the body. We want our immune response to protect against infection, ignore harmless substances, accept transplanted organs, not attack ins own organs and protect the body against carcinogenesis and tumor growth. We want to avoid recurrent infection, allergic response to harmless substances, rejection of transplanted organs, auto-immune disease in which the body attacks its own systems, and cancer. See figure 11.
For more information or to order a copy of the complete GSH Handbook by Dr. Jimmy Gutman, MD, contact CellularHealth Foundation (866)728.8865 or send email to info@cellularhealth.org - website: www.cellularhealth.org -
Chapter from “The GSH Handbook” by Dr. Jimmy Gutman Figure 11 – Desired and undesired immune responses Desired response Undesired response Infectious agent
Protective immunity
Recurrent infection
Harmless substance
No response
Allergy
Transplant organ
Acceptance
Rejection
Self organ
Self tolerance
Auto-immune disease
Tumor
Tumor immunity
Cancer
The two most common examples of unwanted immune response are autoimmune disease and allergies. In autoimmune disease the body mistakes normal tissue for a foreign antigen and attacks it, leading to the destruction of healthy tissue. In the case of allergies, the immune system mistakes a harmless substance for a potentially dangerous one and reacts with an aggressive, sometimes deadly response. Some autoimmune diseases are: • • • • •
Lupus Myasthenia gravis Chronic fatigue syndrome Rheumatoid arthritis Multiple sclerosis
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Polymyositis Scleroderma Lou Gehrig’s disease Grave’s disease
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND GSH Our account of polymorphonuclear cells and lymphocytes in the previous section describes only a part of the immune system. B-cell lymphocytes account for about 10% of all circulating lymphocytes and work by releasing immunoglobulins to attack and destroy invading pathogens. About 80% of lymphocytes are T-cells. When this system is disrupted the doors to infection open and health is compromised. For example, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) destroys helper T-cells and leaves killer T-cells cut off and powerless. As a result, invading microorganisms that the body would normally shrug off are able to cause the severe infections that characterize AIDS. GSH plays a central role in the functioning of our immune cells. Dr. Gustavo Bounous, a leading expert on GSH says, “The limiting factor in the proper activity of our lymphocytes is the availability of GSH.” This is strikingly clear in the example of the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV – the cause of AIDS (see chapter 12). AIDS is essentially a T-cell dysfunction. Patients typically suffer from low GSH levels and especially from low T-cell GSH count. Several studies have shown that GSH levels can predict an AIDS patient’s chances of survival and quality of life. The healthy growth and activity of immune cells depends upon the availability of GSH. Experimental depletion of GSH has severely diminished the ability of these cells to fight For more information or to order a copy of the complete GSH Handbook by Dr. Jimmy Gutman, MD, contact CellularHealth Foundation (866)728.8865 or send email to info@cellularhealth.org - website: www.cellularhealth.org -
Chapter from “The GSH Handbook” by Dr. Jimmy Gutman pathogens and left the door wide open to disease. In numerous studies the level of intracellular GSH in the lymphocytes corresponds directly to the effectiveness of immune response. In the simplest terms, GSH is a short of ‘food’ for the immune system. In some autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (chapter 6), lupus (SLE) and in normal aging (chapter 6), T-cell lymphocytes show a weakened response to antigens. In addition, these chronic inflammatory conditions have been associated with low serum and red blood cell GSH concentrations. A lymphocyte attacks a pathogen by releasing powerful oxidizing chemicals such as peroxide and protects itself against these chemicals by neutralizing them with GSH. Also, lymphocytes must replicate themselves over and over again (monoclonal expansion) in order to attack the whole pathogen population. This requires the use of oxygen and release further oxidants. In order to continue multiplying efficiently GSH is once again required to counteract the effects of oxidation. So fighting off infection consumes GSH in two ways – by using it to stabilize free radicals and also to grow immune cells. This is apparent in acute infections such as bacterial pneumonia. In chronic infections such as hepatitis C or AIDS, GSH depletion is even more pronounced. Recent research has demonstrated that elevated GSH levels enable the immune system to address these infections more effectively. Doctor Bounous with his McGill University team measured the immune response of laboratory animals fed a whey protein isolate rich in GSH precursors (later trademarked Immunocal). These animals demonstrated both higher intracellular GSH levels and a heightened response to immune challenge. Interestingly, animals fed a similar diet of cysteine-enriched casein (see chapter 4) did not benefit from the same effects. So the protective activity of GSH is two-fold – it enhances the activity of immune cells and also functions as an antioxidant within them. A frightening number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections such as flesh-eating disease, vancomycin-resistant enterococcus and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus have made their way into our hospitals and communities. Some health professionals believe that viruses such as those causing AIDS and Hepatitis C are just the tip of the iceberg, and that a wave of newly emerging pathogens is on its way. Old foes like tuberculosis, previously thought to have been eliminated, are back with a vengeance and are no longer susceptible to previously successful treatments. Enhancing our GSH levels is a practical precaution against this ominous trend. CONCLUSION The immune system uses a variety of cells to fight off infection and other threats and the healthy growth and activity of these cells depends upon the availability of GSH. Glutathione is at the heart of all immune functions and low GSH levels are seen in many diseases, especially AIDS which is characterized by a severely compromised immune system. For more information or to order a copy of the complete GSH Handbook by Dr. Jimmy Gutman, MD, contact CellularHealth Foundation (866)728.8865 or send email to info@cellularhealth.org - website: www.cellularhealth.org -
Chapter from “The GSH Handbook” by Dr. Jimmy Gutman Raising and maintaining GSH levels can minimize the risk of these diseases. Although only very ill people are severely deficient in GSH, those in good or fair health can benefit from GSH supplementation, especially in these days when we are exposed as never before to environmental toxins and drug-resistant bacteria. The use of GSH supplementation to fight specific diseases is discussed in part 2. Without question, the best type of preventive medicine is an optimized immune system and a critical strategy to optimize it is by feeding it GSH. REFERENCES TO CHAPTER 3 GSH & THE IMMUNE SYSTEM ANDERSON ME. GSH and GSH delivery systems. Advances in Pharmacology 38: 6578, 1997 BOUNOUS G, BATIST G, GOLD P. Immunoenhancing property of dietary whey proteins in mice: role of glutathione. Clinical and Investigative Medicine 12: 154-161, 1989 BOUNOUS G, GOLD P. The biological activity of undenatured dietary whey protein in mice: role of glutathione. Clinical and Investigative Medicine 14: 296-309, 1991 BOUNOUS G, KONGSHAVN P. Influence of dietary proteins on the immune system of mice. Journal of Nutrition 112: 1747-1755, 1982 BOUNOUS G, KONGSHAVN PA. Differential effect of dietary protein type on the Bcell and T-cell immune responses in mice. Journal of Nutrition 115: 1403-1408, 1985 DROGE W, POTTMEYER-GERBER C, SCHMIDT H, NICK S. Glutathione augments the activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vivo. Immunobiology 172: 151-156, 1986 FIDELUS RK, GINOUVES P, LAWRENCE D, TSAN MF. Modulation of intracellular glutathione concentrations alters lymphocyte activation and proliferation. Experimental Cell Research 170: 269-275, 1987 FIDELUS RK, TSAN MF. Glutathione and lymphocyte activation: a function of aging and autoimmune disease. Immunology 61: 503-508, 1987 FURUKAWA T, MEYDANI SN, BLUMBERG JB. Reversal of age associated decline in immune responsiveness by dietary glutathione supplementation in mice. Mechanisms of Aging and Development 38: 107-117, 1987 GMUNDER H, DROGE W. Differential effects of glutathione depletion of T-cell subsets. Cellular Immunology 138: 229-237, 1991
For more information or to order a copy of the complete GSH Handbook by Dr. Jimmy Gutman, MD, contact CellularHealth Foundation (866)728.8865 or send email to info@cellularhealth.org - website: www.cellularhealth.org -
Chapter from “The GSH Handbook” by Dr. Jimmy Gutman HAMILOS DL, WEDNER HJ. The role of glutathione in lymphocyte activation. Journal of Immunology 135: 2740-2747, 1985 KIDD PM. Glutathione: Systemic protectant against oxidative and free radical damage. Alternative Medicine Review 2: 155-176, 1997 ROTILIO G, KNOEPFEL L, STEINKUHLER C, PALMARA AT, CIROLO MR, GARACI E. Effects of intracellular redox status on cellular regulation and viral infection. In: Oxidative Stress, Cell Activation and Viral Infection, C. Pasquier et al (eds.), 1994
For more information or to order a copy of the complete GSH Handbook by Dr. Jimmy Gutman, MD, contact CellularHealth Foundation (866)728.8865 or send email to info@cellularhealth.org - website: www.cellularhealth.org -