neweimear
Senior Member
- Messages
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Metabolism and inflammation - that's a interesting combination given the possible glucose connection in ME/CFS.
Teams led by immunologist Prof Luke O’Neill, who is based in Trinity, and Dr Mike Murphy, of the University of Cambridge, have discovered that “itaconate” – a molecule derived from glucose – “acts as a powerful off switch for macrophages”, which are cells operating at the heart of the the immune system where inflammation occurs.
“My lab has been exploring metabolic changes in macrophages for the past six years, and we’ve come across what we think is the most important finding yet,” said Prof O’Neill.
Prof O’Neill and his collaborators are exploring its relevance to the onset and development of inflammatory and infectious diseases. They are also keen to explore whether the findings can be exploited in the effort to develop new anti-inflammatory medicines.
It looks like itaconate is made in the TCA cycle.
Does this relate to aconitic on an Organic Acid test (OAT)?
Yes, cis-aconitic acid is a direct precursor to itaconate.
Curious about your pyruvic acid and citric acid levels. Would you be able to post your results? Thanks!
Sure. Pyruvic came in at 2.0, while citric was 99 (both just below orange band on OAT).
No ranges as such. Here is a photo visual attached.
No - last summer I was actually eating carbs - about 80-100 a day in the hope of raising gut diversity. Nevertheless, my hydroxybutyrate was flagged in that OAT as high 5.2 when it should be less than 3.1.
Thanks. Sent to Ron.
There must be a switch somewhere! Could this be it or one of them? I'll bet there are multiple switches in the immune system
Hmm, wonder if that switch involves antibodies to alpha7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha7nAChR) causing dysfunction in the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. That could explain the involvement of GI problems too.As part of the immune system, inflammation has a useful role helping the body to heal after an injury, for example, but it can damage organs and blood vessels if it persists when it is not needed. One of the vagus nerve's jobs is to reset the immune system and switch off production of proteins that fuel inflammation. Low vagal tone means this regulation is less effective and inflammation can become excessive"