Re: Genetic Immune panel, GH/bGFs, Cheney - Carol

[Guest guest]

Carol,

Thank you for responding to my questions on the genetic testing.

You have always been VERY HELPFUL and NEVER HESITATE to share

information.

Bless You

Jan

> Jan, you asked, " Did the results of the genetic immune testing

actually report how your TH1 and TH2 is functioning? or did Cheney

decipher it from the results i.e. was the report easy to read or

difficult to interpret. " Al, you also asked about this test.

>

> Cheney used both the Genovations immune genetic panel

(www.genovations.com) and the panel from Immunosciences (the one with

RNase L, 2-5a, NK function, PKR, etc.) to determine my immune state.

>

> The genetic panel does not show how the TH1/Th2 is functioning in

real time. It only shows what polymorphisms (abnormalities) you may

have inherited. It reveals any inherited genetic abnormalities that

might be a problem, but it doesn't test to see if they are actively

expressing or not. Genes are either on or off, and I think it's

rather dynamic - sometimes on, sometimes off. So, I repeat, the

genovations test tells you what you've inherited, not whether or not

the genes are expressing - sending out instructions.

>

> The best thing is that the test comes with a detailed -and

extensive - explanation of the results and with many suggestions as

to how to either keep the genes turned off, or turn them off if

they're on. I was able to better tailor my supplement regimen as a

result of the test. And I learned that the high dose Evening Primrose

Oil I had been taking per Dr. Les Simpson's protocol was likely part

of my downfall. Omega 6 happens to be a trigger for one of the gene

abnormalities I have - it can turn on a storm of TNF-a (Tumor

Necrosis Factor alpha) - really bad news. Except that I'm much less

likely to get cancer, as Cheney noted. :-)

>

> There are two results for each site tested - one from each parent.

Since they are looking for problematic abnormalities, a positive

means you have the abnormality.

>

> You can be double negative (good news - and it means that neither

of your parents have it, and that your kids didn't inherit it from

you); you can have one negative and one positive (one parent has it,

one doesn't; it also means you have a 50% chance of passing it on to

your kids); you can be double positive (bad news - and both parents

carried it, and you definitely pass it on to any children.)

>

> I was, not surprisingly, given my history, double positive on two

of the worst in terms of TH1/TH2 regulation.

>

> Six sites were tested for common problematic abnormalities, broken

into three categories:

>

> CHRONIC INFLAMMATION

> (1) Interleukin-1 beta

> (2) Interleukin-1RN (receptor antagonist)

> TH-1 CYTOKINE (VIRAL INFECTION & CANCER)

> (3) TNF-a (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha)

> TH-2 CYTOKINE (ALLERGY, ASTHMA & ATOPY)

> (4) Interleukin-6

> (5) Interleukin-10

> (6) Interleukin-13

>

> For those considering GH and bGF's, Cheney pays particular

attention to IL-10. When expressing, it upregulates the TH-2 side of

the immune system, usually resulting in a downregulation of the TH-1.

>

> GH and bGFs have a tendency to cause TH-2 upregulation, especially

in those of us who are predisposed to it already, or who are already

in a current state of TH-2 upregulation when starting the GH. Cheney

never starts someone on GH if there's any indication of TH-2

upregulation, viral activity, etc.

>

> Actually he gave me a check list for going on GH when I asked.

Don't know where my notes are now - I'll eventually post details when

I'm feeling better. I think it included normal on NK function & RNase

L (the panel from Immunosciences - Dr. Vodjani's lab), normal on

mdlabs.com CFS panel (all the usual viruses and bacteria), and

something about a three color flow cytometry panel from AAL? I'm

really foggy on the last - I don't ever recall having it, and he

looked at me like I should have. Hmm. ?? Unless it's another name for

the Lymphocyte Enumeration test. A mystery. Another thing to track

down from my notes and tapes when I feel better.

>

> The other test result on the immune panel that Cheney really looks

at (for GH/bGFs anyway) is the TNF-a. Depending on what other

variables are in play, it can seriously upregulate either or both

sides of the immune system. Cheney speculated that during my initial

treatment, my TNF-a abnormality may have been upregulating my TH-1,

somewhat counteracting the TH-1 down-regulation that the IL-10 gene

abnormality was indirectly causing. They may have neutralized each

other, at least for awhile.

>

> Both my local doc and Cheney find this test extremely useful, and

particlarly essential in the consideration of GH or the combo of

GH/bGFs.

>

> Cheney is really excited about some recent research out of the CDC.

They are using a techology called microarrays to look at tens of

thousands of genes, and they are testing them to see if they are on

or off. This genetic expression profiling using DNA microarrays may

lead to a diagnostic marker, clear division into sub-groups, and

appropriate treatment. There was a recent abtract on co-cure about

this (Feb 19), and also one back in Nov.

>

> The CDC was able to distinguish CFS patients from healthy controls

by finding a clear pattern of which genes were expressing - ie " on "

or sending out instructions.

>

> I believe Cheney said that they could test 45,000 genes and see if

they were on or off. The pattern that emerges offers a staggering

amount of information. Amazing implications for many illnesses, both

diagnostically and in terms of treatment.

>

> Long answer to a short question. Sorry! The energy comes in waves -

got to use it when I have it. It's gone now! Those waves are few and

far between these days. :-)

>

> Take care. Carol

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