Swiss Bee-Keepers Hold Key to MS Vaccine

Investigators: David Wraith and Hartmut Wekerle by John Bonner

Swiss bee-keepers are the unlikely source of evidence to suggest that a proposed new treatment for multiple sclerosis will work, said immunologist David Wraith from the University of Bristol.

Wraith's team has been investigating ways of blocking the specific T cells that react to proteins of the protective myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells. The T cells produce inflammatory cytokines that mediate destruction of the protective sheath.

He has been using synthetic peptides based on fragments of myelin protein to induce tolerance and stop the disastrous autoimmune response.

The approach has been successful in a laboratory model for human MS, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Repeated exposure to the peptides switches off the Th1 pathway, which generates T cells that produce tumor necrosis factor and other cytokines implicated in the inflammatory response in MS patients.

Treated mice express a different T-cell population, known as Th0, which produces the protective cytokine IL-10. This blocks any further autoimmune degeneration by preventing antigen-presenting cells from activating new Th1 cells.

The peptides are squirted up the nostrils rather than given as an intravenous vaccine. This makes use of the mucosal immune response designed to prevent damaging inflammatory reactions to harmless antigens in the air and (in the gut mucosa) in food.

"Most autoimmune diseases are inflammatory responses, and so we are tapping into the machinery which has been specially designed to dampen down the inflammatory process," Wraith told BioMedNet News.

Even antigens that are otherwise harmful can be tolerated when presented to the immune system via the mucosal surface. Scientists in the mid-19th century described how Native Americans had devised a way of preventing skin reactions to poison ivy by regularly eating the plant's leaves, Wraith says.

But, Wraith needed evidence that the beneficial changes induced by the vaccine in mice could also be generated in humans. "It is all very well having an animal model. But before we could think of trying this approach on patients, we needed evidence that people could produce the same type of T cells that generate the protective IL-10 response seen in mice."

That evidence came from a study of beekeepers in Switzerland, which showed that regular exposure to bee stings switches off allergic reactions - the bee-keeper's blood samples were rich in IL 10.

Wraith has an agreement in principle from the UK medicines licensing authority to begin trials in MS patients. These are likely to begin within the next year, after completing the necessary preclinical safety tests. Patients will probably receive a primary course of repeated weekly doses followed by monthly booster doses. He expects those patients in the early stages of the disease to benefit most.

Current treatments for MS do little more than treat the symptoms of the disease.

Even the controversial beta interferon therapy works only in some patients and then only slows the progress of the disease. "We hope that we can shut the gate - this is the only treatment that gets to the heart of the process that causes the disease," he said.

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

MS is one tough illness to reverse. But if one gives careful attention to the eating plan and implements some of the treatments discussed below should help to resolve the underlying issues contributing to the problem.

Elimination of milk and dairy is critical. Studies have shown that cow's milk consumption is correlated with MS prevalence (Neuroepidemiology 1992;11:304-12, Neuroepidemiology 1993;12:15-27).

Additionally one should always consider heavy metal toxicity when addressing MS.

NST is one of the more important aspects of a successful treatment strategy for neurological diseases like MS. NST can help by restoring balance to the autonomic nervous system with a secondary improvement in the immune system.

This certainly has been my experience with rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. Klinghardt, who was not interviewed for this article, also has a considerable amount of clinical experience with MS and has found bee venom therapy to be helpful. There is a link to the protocol below for Lyme Disease which is identical to the MS protocol.

My comment in that article also has a phone number where professionals can order the bee venom.

Other useful measures include:

1. Vitamin D Deficiency - MS much more common in individuals with lower vitamin D levels and in countries where people get less sunlight exposure. A previous article in the newsletter showed a positive effect of sunlight exposure on MS. Maybe correcting a vitamin D deficiency can halt progression?

2. Calcium AEP - Although I don't know of any good studies on it, the late Dr. Nieper in Germany used it extensively in his clinic and Dr. Robert Atkins in New York City claims that 85% of his patients get positive results from it. Although there is an oral form available, most physicians use an IV administration. I have not tried it yet but might enter a clinical investigation with it in the near future.

3. Electromagnetic Stimulation of the Pineal Gland - There is a Dr. Reuven Sandyk in the NYC area who uses AC pulsed electromagnetic fields to stimulate the pineal gland and he seems to get some very good results, although the treatment is very expensive and must be done long-term. Due to the prohibitively expensive equipment, Dr. Sandyk's clinic is probably the only place to receive this treatment.

4. Alpha Lipoic Acid - A study from the Netherlands showed that Lipoic acid is a non-specific scavenger of Reactive Oxygen Species and decreased the phagocytosis of myelin by macrophages. Free radicals appear to play a regulatory role in the destruction of myelin (Journal of Neuroimmunology 1998 Dec 1;92:67-75)

5. Progesterone - Progesterone has actually been shown in animal studies to promote the formation of new myelin sheaths (Human Reproduction 2000 Jun;15 Suppl 1:1-13, J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 1999 Apr-Jun;69:97-107, Mult Scler 1997 Apr;3:105-12). I am not aware of any clinicians using progesterone the treat MS patients, but if any of my readers have any additional information on this, please e-mail me.