Moving consistently to “evidence-based care processes consistent with best practices” is the most difficult and the most important part of Making America Healthy Again.
Thank you for sharing your story and the importance of evidence based care. As a nurse and now patient living with 3 autoimmune conditions, this is so very important.
I love your comment. We can help each other. I have been studying the root causes of chronic diseases for 30 years. I write about the root causes and using that knowledge to guide practical treatment protocols
My deep studies have led me to the conclusion that all chronic diseases and aging are related. Most of them are caused by normal genes that are essential to fetal development. Later in life these same genes are reactivated by enbironmental issues like excess abdominal fat, stress, smoking, toxins etc. I asked AI to briefly explain how autoimmune disease fits into this model. Here is the answer:
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by a dysregulated immune system attacking healthy tissues, and their pathogenesis involves a complex interplay between genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and epigenetic modifications. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression that occur without altering the underlying DNA sequence, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. These epigenetic changes can significantly impact the immune system, affecting immune cell development, function, and potentially leading to a breakdown of immune tolerance.
The Role of Epigenetics:
Immune cell regulation: Epigenetic modifications are crucial for controlling the development and function of immune cells, impacting their ability to mount appropriate immune responses.
Gene expression: Epigenetics determines which genes are active or silenced, influencing the expression of immune-related genes and potentially contributing to autoimmune disease susceptibility or progression.
Mediating environmental interactions: Epigenetics can act as a bridge between environmental triggers (like diet, stress, and infections) and genetic susceptibility, potentially contributing to autoimmune disease development.
Excess Oxidants (Oxidative Stress):
Autoimmunity and inflammation: Oxidative stress, an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defenses, is linked to autoimmunity and can worsen inflammation.
Modulating epigenetics: Oxidative stress can influence epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, through various mechanisms like DNA damage repair, altered metabolism, and redox-sensitive transcription factors.
Worsening immune dysfunction: Oxidative stress can exacerbate immune dysfunction and contribute to autoimmune disease progression by affecting immune cell function and increasing inflammation.
mTOR (mammalian Target of Rapamycin) and AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase):
Metabolic regulators: mTOR and AMPK are key signaling pathways involved in regulating cellular metabolism, growth, and survival.
Connecting metabolism and epigenetics: These pathways can influence epigenetic modifications, with studies showing that mTOR affects histone demethylase activity.
Impact on autoimmune disorders: Dysregulation of mTOR signaling has been implicated in immune dysfunction and associated with autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). AMPK, on the other hand, is being investigated for its potential to suppress autoimmune conditions and regulate inflammation.
Regulating immune cell function: mTOR and AMPK can also modulate the metabolic state and function of immune cells like T cells, B cells, and macrophages, impacting their roles in the immune response.
Inflammation and Autoimmune Disease:
Central to disease: Dysregulated inflammation is a hallmark of autoimmune diseases, leading to tissue damage.
Intertwined with other factors: Inflammation, epigenetic modifications, and metabolic changes are interconnected, contributing to the development and progression of autoimmune conditions.
Oxidative stress and inflammation: Chronic inflammation can generate oxidative stress, creating a cycle that can predispose to or worsen autoimmune diseases.
In summary, the interplay between epigenetics, excess oxidants (oxidative stress), mTOR and AMPK signaling, and inflammation is crucial in the development and progression of autoimmune diseases. Epigenetic modifications regulate immune responses, oxidative stress can disrupt these modifications and worsen inflammation, and pathways like mTOR and AMPK can link metabolic changes to epigenetic alterations and immune cell function. Understanding these complex interactions is essential for developing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for autoimmune diseases.
Thank you for sharing your story and the importance of evidence based care. As a nurse and now patient living with 3 autoimmune conditions, this is so very important.
I love your comment. We can help each other. I have been studying the root causes of chronic diseases for 30 years. I write about the root causes and using that knowledge to guide practical treatment protocols
My deep studies have led me to the conclusion that all chronic diseases and aging are related. Most of them are caused by normal genes that are essential to fetal development. Later in life these same genes are reactivated by enbironmental issues like excess abdominal fat, stress, smoking, toxins etc. I asked AI to briefly explain how autoimmune disease fits into this model. Here is the answer:
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by a dysregulated immune system attacking healthy tissues, and their pathogenesis involves a complex interplay between genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and epigenetic modifications. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression that occur without altering the underlying DNA sequence, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. These epigenetic changes can significantly impact the immune system, affecting immune cell development, function, and potentially leading to a breakdown of immune tolerance.
The Role of Epigenetics:
Immune cell regulation: Epigenetic modifications are crucial for controlling the development and function of immune cells, impacting their ability to mount appropriate immune responses.
Gene expression: Epigenetics determines which genes are active or silenced, influencing the expression of immune-related genes and potentially contributing to autoimmune disease susceptibility or progression.
Mediating environmental interactions: Epigenetics can act as a bridge between environmental triggers (like diet, stress, and infections) and genetic susceptibility, potentially contributing to autoimmune disease development.
Excess Oxidants (Oxidative Stress):
Autoimmunity and inflammation: Oxidative stress, an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defenses, is linked to autoimmunity and can worsen inflammation.
Modulating epigenetics: Oxidative stress can influence epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, through various mechanisms like DNA damage repair, altered metabolism, and redox-sensitive transcription factors.
Worsening immune dysfunction: Oxidative stress can exacerbate immune dysfunction and contribute to autoimmune disease progression by affecting immune cell function and increasing inflammation.
mTOR (mammalian Target of Rapamycin) and AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase):
Metabolic regulators: mTOR and AMPK are key signaling pathways involved in regulating cellular metabolism, growth, and survival.
Connecting metabolism and epigenetics: These pathways can influence epigenetic modifications, with studies showing that mTOR affects histone demethylase activity.
Impact on autoimmune disorders: Dysregulation of mTOR signaling has been implicated in immune dysfunction and associated with autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). AMPK, on the other hand, is being investigated for its potential to suppress autoimmune conditions and regulate inflammation.
Regulating immune cell function: mTOR and AMPK can also modulate the metabolic state and function of immune cells like T cells, B cells, and macrophages, impacting their roles in the immune response.
Inflammation and Autoimmune Disease:
Central to disease: Dysregulated inflammation is a hallmark of autoimmune diseases, leading to tissue damage.
Intertwined with other factors: Inflammation, epigenetic modifications, and metabolic changes are interconnected, contributing to the development and progression of autoimmune conditions.
Oxidative stress and inflammation: Chronic inflammation can generate oxidative stress, creating a cycle that can predispose to or worsen autoimmune diseases.
In summary, the interplay between epigenetics, excess oxidants (oxidative stress), mTOR and AMPK signaling, and inflammation is crucial in the development and progression of autoimmune diseases. Epigenetic modifications regulate immune responses, oxidative stress can disrupt these modifications and worsen inflammation, and pathways like mTOR and AMPK can link metabolic changes to epigenetic alterations and immune cell function. Understanding these complex interactions is essential for developing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for autoimmune diseases.
Well that’s a mouthful! I’m sure I had epigenetic changes, both during childhood (ACE score) and during adulthood.