Flu TNF-a and Cytokine Storms in Flu

Deb Mc

Veteran Member
Some *great* info at this website, some of which might help explain the sudden deaths of "healthy" people recently being reported in the news.

There is a LOT more info at the link below, many more links to each item with greater detail, as well as a few illustrations.

Fair use cited...


https://selfhacked.com/blog/supplem...e-tnf-interleukin-6-il-6/#TNF-alphaIncreasers

How To Increase Performance and Improve Health By Inhibiting TNF-alpha

Cytokines Updated: Oct 26, 2017


Top 16 Ways To Inhibit TNF


*Elemental diet (R)/ Lectin avoidance diet if lectin sensitive
*Fish Oil/DHA+EPA (R)
*Calorie restriction (R)
*Fasting (R)
*Exercise (R)
*PQQ (R)
*Resveratrol (R)
*Curcumin (R)…powerful (R)
*EGCG (R)
*Cinnamon/Sodium Benzoate (R, R2)
*Black Cumin Seed Oil….powerful (R)
*Rooibos (R)
*Carob (R)
*Licorice (R)
*Nicotinamide Riboside NAD+ (R)
*Kombucha/Lactic acid (R)
*Hops (xanthohumol) (R)…potent.

You can check if your fatigue, mood, and motivation issues are related to TNF by measuring blood TNF-alpha levels.


An Introduction to Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)

<Illustration at website linked above>

The three most common inflammatory cytokines that are responsible for chronic inflammatory diseases are Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), Interleukin-1beta (IL-1b) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6). These are the most commonly talked about cytokines in the literature.

The transcription factor nuclear factor NF-kappaB is also heavily spoken about and these four proteins are what people most likely refer to when they talk about chronic inflammation (whether they are aware of this or not).

TNF can be increased in either Th1 dominance or Th2 dominance.

TNF increases CRP, which is a common blood measurement to gauge inflammation. However, CRP is not sensitive enough to detect lower, but chronic levels of TNF. See my discussion of this in my IL-6 post.

It’s important to realize that you can have TNF elevated locally in areas such as your hypothalamus or gut and it wouldn’t show on blood tests.

Many kinds of cells release TNF and then TNF goes on to stimulate other immune cells.

TNF is released by Macrophages, Dendritic cells, T cells, Fat cells, and Fibroblasts.

TNF then affects various cells. In particular, it will affect cells that line our blood vessels (endothelial cells), which causes vascular problems and this strongly causes cancer, as it causes angiogenesis and increased blood vessel formation (hypervascularization). It can also cause heart disease, kidney disease, and cognitive problems.

TNF negatively affects intestinal cells, causing cell death, leaky gut, IBS, and IBD.

TNF stimulates macrophages and effector T cells, which leads to more inflammatory cytokine production and apoptosis resistance (which contributes to cancer).
 

Deb Mc

Veteran Member
[big snip]


Diseases Associated With TNF-alpha

*Autoimmune disease: in general (R), Multiple Sclerosis (R), Behcet’s (R), SLE (R), Scleroderma (R), Sarcoidosis (R), Hidradenitis suppurativa (R), Ankylosing spondylitis (R), Erythema nodosum leprosum (R)

*Heart disease (R) – Heart failure (R), Atherosclerosis (R), Stroke (R)
*Cancer in general (R), Melanoma (R)
*Insulin Resistance (R), Diabetes II (R)
*Alzheimer’s (R), Parkinson’s (R), ALS (R)
*Major Depression (R) – Depressed people had TNF levels that were about 3.97 pg/ml higher than healthy people (R).
*IBS (R, R2), Crohn’s/Ulcerative Colitis (R)
*Rheumatoid Arthritis (R)
*Osteoporosis (R)
*Psoriasis (R), Eczema (R)
*Asthma (R), COPD (R). TNF stimulates various molecules which recruit eosinophils, neutrophils, and lymphocytes to the airway. TNF can induce corticosteroid resistance (R).

*OCD – only sometimes (R), Schizophrenia (R), Bipolar (R, R2), Anorexia (R)
*PCOS (R) – TNF shifts production of cortisol to testosterone, hence causing PCOS (R).

*Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (R), Fibromyalgia (R) – contradictory (R).

*Others: Tinnitus (R), Epilepsy (R), Cystic Fibrosis (R), Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (R), Diabetic Neuropathy (R), Chronic liver disease (R), Fatty Liver (R)
 

Deb Mc

Veteran Member
[Another big snip from the same article]


The Most Significant Factors That Influence TNF

The two main factors that cause elevated TNF, if I had to guess, are lectins (R) and obesity (R), since fat cells produce TNF. If we ate less, a lot of people’s inflammation problems would disappear.

Other likely causes are sleep deprivation (R) and high blood glucose levels (R) from eating too much, especially high glycemic index foods.

Other common factors are a lack of exercise (R), excess alcohol (R), smoking (R), and not enough fruits and veggies (R, R2).

UV acutely increases TNF (R, R2, R3) (but eventually downregulates it). This is the likely reason why some people experience fatigue from sunbathing.

Recent research indicates that TNF is potently inhibited by exercise (specifically, myokines or proteins produced by the muscles such as IL-6) (R). However, excessive exercise or Marathons will elevate TNF (R).

An infection can also elevate TNF. Bacterial (rather than viral) infections are more likely if you have elevated TNF (R).


TNF-alpha Increasers


*Oxidative stress – TNF activity is dependent on the generation of ROS (R).

*Lectins – For people who are lectin sensitive (perhaps a quarter of the population)

*Sun – Both UVA and UVB, which are emitted by the sun, acutely increase TNF-alpha (R, R2, R3). I still support sun exposure.

*Excessive exercise/Marathons (R)

*Sleep deprivation (R)

*Chronic insomnia – in the day time (R).

*Obesity (R)

*High glucose levels (R) – usually because of high glycemic index foods (R).

*A lack of exercise (R)

*A lack of resistant starch (R)

*Circadian disruption (R)

*Excess alcohol (R)

*Smoking (R)

*A high-fat diet (especially palmitic acid (R) – this doesn’t mean to eat a low fat diet) (R).

*A lack of foods like fruits and vegetables, which contain phytochemicals that inhibit TNF and other kinds of inflammation (R, R2).

*Heavy metals (R)

*Some toxins (R)

*Magnesium deficiency (R)

*Zinc deficiency (R)

*Vitamin D deficiency (R, R2, R3)

*Chromium deficiency (R)

*Choline Deficiency (R) – People who consumed more than 360 mg per a day had a 12% lower concentrations of TNF than those who consumed less.

*Coffee – Coffee drinkers had an average of 28% higher TNF, but maybe people with high TNF are tired, so they’re more likely to drink coffee. I got inflammation from it.

*Goji Berries (R), Aloe – (in cancer cells) (R), Reishi (R) – decreases if high (R), Andrographis (R), Apismin – found in honey and royal jelly (R). (I once took 20X the dosage of royal jelly and got fever from it). Arabinogalactan – (R).
Vasopressin (R), IGF-1 (R), Angiotensin II (R).
 

Deb Mc

Veteran Member
Continuing from the same article, linked above...


TNF-alpha Inhibitors

[Illustration in article, at link provided above]

Since TNF is one factor that makes us tired at night, I recommend taking most supplements in the day time.

All of the products that are not drugs are in my toolkit unless there’s a star next to it.

The vast majority of herbs and natural products inhibit TNF, IL-1b, IL-6, and NF-kB to one degree or another.

There are drugs that target TNF (monoclonal antibodies). They are effective and should be taken if all else fails and if they are indicated for your condition (with the approval of your doctor). You’d also want to measure your blood levels of TNF before you take these drugs.

The biggest problem with inhibiting TNF too much is that you become more susceptible to infections – and when you do get sick it’s more dangerous.

When researchers tried to give drugs to inhibit TNF and IL-1b together, they had to stop the trials because people started to get sick very easily. The supplements are not as strong, so there’s not much concern here. Also, when herbs inhibit TNF, they are simultaneously acting as antimicrobials, which prevents you from getting infections to begin with (or activating latent infections).

If you take multiple supplements and combine them with diet and lifestyle, the effect should be significant, but I haven’t noticed an increase in infections on myself.

[BIG SNIP in article]


Foods To Inhibit TNF

*Sardines (the protein in it) (R)
*Cinnamon/Sodium Benzoate
*Nutritional Yeast/B-glucans (R, R2) – found in mushrooms.
*Stevia (R, R2)
*Honey (R)
*Chocolate /Coffee – PDE inhibitors such as xanthines, caffeine, and theophylline
*Trehalose (R, R2)
*Garlic (R)
*Fish Oil (R)
*Dates (R, R2)

*Blueberries/Berries/Cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside (C3G) – typical anthocyanin found in blackcurrant pomace, European elderberry, red raspberries, plum, peach, lychee, and açaí (R).

(Note from Deb: I'm not sure about the European Elderberry. Am not sure if it is the same as our North American Black Elderberry or not. Black Elderberry *DOES* raise the TNF-a, so I'd steer clear of that...)


*Sulforaphane/Broccoli Sprouts/Cruciferous Veggies (R)
*Soy (R)
*Betalain/Beets (R)
*Kamut (R)
*Coriander (R)
*Tamarind (R)
*Slippery elm (R)
*Dandelion (R)


[SNIP from article]
 

Deb Mc

Veteran Member
[Snip from article, continues from above...]


Top Supplements To Inhibit TNF

*Aspirin (R)
*Inositol (R, R2) – also see picture above
*Boswellia (R)
*Nicotinamide (R)
*EGCG (R)
*Hydroxytyrosol (R)
*Licorice (R), LicoA (R), Glycyrrhizin (R)
*Luteolin (R)
*Andrographolide (R)
*Fisetin (R)
*Resveratrol (R)


Other Supplements To Inhibit TNF

*Bile (R)
*Lactoferrin (R)
*Glycine (R)
*Chromium (R)
*Sialic Acid (R, R2)
*Arginine (R)
*Bromelain (R)
*Berberine (R, R2)
*Apple polyphenols (R)
*Silymarin (R)
*Honokiol (R)
*Chinese Skullcap (R)/Baicalin (R)
*Ginkgo (R)
*Hespderidin (R)
*Carnosine (R)
*Phytosterols (R)
*Tart Cherry (R)
*Astaxanthin (R)
*Astragalus (R)
*Probiotics/B. coagulans (R)
*Cat’s claw (R)
*Artemisinin (R)
*Carnitine (R)
*Genistein (R)
*Amla/Indian Gooseberry (R)
*CoQ10 (R)
*Magnolol (R)
*Echinacea (R)
*Chaga/Betulin (R)
*Bitter melon (R)
*Mastic gum (R)
*Oxymatrine (R)
*Red clover (R)
*Glucosamine (R)
*Quercetin (R)
*Rutin (R)
*Myricetin (R)
*Ashwagandha
*Chrysin (R)
*Mannose? (R)
*Forskolin (R)
*Molecular Hydrogen (R)
*Histidine (R)
*Antler velvet (R)
*Emodin (R).
*Danshen (R)/TanshioneII (R)
*Agmatine + Zymosan (R)
*Mercury – Low levels (R)
*Mud therapy (R)


Drugs That Inhibit TNF

*Cannabis/THC/Marijuana/Pot (R, R2)
*Low Dose Naltrexone – LDN (R)
*Metformin (R)
*Red Yeast Rice/Statins (R)
*MDMA (R)
*Psychedelics/Hallucinogens, via 5-HT2A agonism (extremely potent) (R). These include: Magic mushrooms (psilocybin, the psychedelic) (R), LSD(R), DOI (R), DMT (R), Ayahuasca (R) and Mescaline (R)

*Cocaine (R)
*Allegra/Fexofenadine (R)
*Mizolastine (antihistamine) (R)
*Bupropion (drug, Wellbutrin) (R)
*Rapamycin (R) longevity drug.
*Thalidomide and analogs (R) (Drug)

*Monoclonal antibodies are obviously the strongest: infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab pegol (Cimzia), and golimumab (Simponi), etanercept (Enbrel).


Pathways To Inhibit TNF

*Delta-opioid receptor activation (R)
*ACE inhibitors (drugs and most herbs are) (R)
*PPARy (R)
*HDAC inhibitors (Butyrate) (R)


[BIG SNIP from the article}
 

ainitfunny

Saved, to glorify God.
Interesting that they don't mention (or I missed it) CURCUMIN.(derived from Turmeric)
That is not a .gov, .edu, or .org research site.
Here is some info from a .gov website on what "herbal" is PROVED to stop cytokine storms and cascades:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25600522
Curcumin suppression of cytokine release and cytokine storm. A potential therapy for patients with Ebola and other severe viral infections.
 
Top