1: J Clin Immunol. 2004 Jan;24(1):66-73. Links

Cellular immune activation in gulf war veterans.

Skowera A, Hotopf M, Sawicka E, Varela-Calvino R, Unwin C, Nikolaou V, Hull L, Ismail K, David AS, Wessely SC, Peakman M.

Department of Immunobiology, King's & St. Thomas' School of Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.

The etiology and pathology of illnesses related to the first Persian Gulf War are unclear. Among the constellation of symptoms noted in sick veterans, some, such as skin rashes, musculoskeletal pains, and neuropsychiatric problems, have been proposed to reflect an underlying immune dysfunction. In this study we explored the hypothesis that sickness following deployment to the Gulf in 1991 is associated with altered immune function, and we examine possible associated exposures. In particular, we focused on peripheral blood Th1/Th2 balance by measuring intracellular production of IFN-gamma, IL-2 (Th1), IL-4 (Th2), and IL-10 by CD4 T cells, using a nested case control study design within a large epidemiological survey. We compared symptomatic Gulf War veterans (sGWV) with well GWVs (wGWV), and a second control group of symptomatic veterans who served in Bosnia or were nondeployed military personnel of the same era. We found evidence for an altered immune status in sGWV in comparison to the other study groups. In particular, ongoing Th1-type immune activation was associated with multisymptom illness in GWVs, with sick veterans having significantly elevated levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2 producing CD4+ cells in the absence of in vitro stimulation compared with wGWVs ( P = 0.01 and P =0.001). In vitro polyclonal activation revealed significantly elevated levels of IL-10 producing memory CD4 cells in sGWVs ( P <0.001), but other cytokines were normal. In terms of possible exposures that might influence immune function, we found a trend for reduced levels of IFN-gamma producing cells after polyclonal activation with increasing numbers of vaccines administered ( P <0.05) but no changes in other cytokines. These data show that multisymptom illness in Gulf War veterans is characterized by ongoing Th1-type immune activation and a biased generation of memory cells secreting the suppressor cytokine, IL-10.

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(along with difficulty sleeping at night; difficulty concentrating, short term memory loss, CNS depression, 'fly off the handle' personality changes, & suicidal tendencies)

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Per this source http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/57/66107.htm

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What Is Multiple Sclerosis? MS is an autoimmune disease, whereby the body's immune system, which normally targets and destroys substances foreign to the body such as bacteria, mistakenly attacks normal tissues. In MS, the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord, the two components of the central nervous system.

The central nervous system is made up of nerves that act as the body's messenger system. Each nerve is covered by a fatty substance called myelin, which insulates the nerves and helps in the transmission of nerve impulses, or messages, between the brain and other parts of the body. These messages control muscle movements, such as walking and talking.

MS gets its name from the buildup of scar tissue (sclerosis) in the brain and/or spinal cord. The scar tissue or plaques form when the protective and insulating myelin covering the nerves is destroyed, a process called demyelination. Without the myelin, electrical signals transmitted throughout the brain and spinal cord are disrupted or halted. The brain then becomes unable to send and to receive messages. It is this breakdown of communication that causes the symptoms of MS.

Although the nerves can regain myelin, this process is not fast enough to outpace the deterioration that occurs in MS. The types of symptoms, severity of symptoms, and the course of MS vary widely, partly due to the location of the scar tissue and the extent of demyelination.

Multiple sclerosis affects 350,000 Americans and is, with the exception of trauma, the most frequent cause of neurological disability beginning in early to middle adulthood. MS is twice as common in females as in males and its occurrence is unusual before adolescence. A person has an increased risk of developing the disease from the teen years to age 35 with the risk gradually declining thereafter.

What Causes MS? No one is sure what causes the body's immune system to go awry

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This is a back up copy of this topic posted on Patriot Files

There are some of us veterans going to DC to go to the hill after the conference to try and get the reps to do some work on this issue.
www.kansasvets.org

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Immunoglobulin A Deficiency:
Synonyms and related keywords: immunodeficiency, selective IgA deficiency, selective immunoglobulin A deficiency, primary antibody deficiencies, primary antibody deficiency, antibody deficiency, IgAD, immunodeficiency disease, sinopulmonary infection, sinus infection, otitis media, stomach cancer, Giardia lamblia, G lamblia, Helicobacter pylori, H pylori, GI cancer, gastrointestinal disease, GI disease, Crohn disease, upper respiratory tract infection, lower respiratory tract infection, chronic diarrhea, transfusion complication, blood product reaction, adverse transfusion reaction

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"IgAD is a primary immunodeficiency disease presumed to result from a failure of terminal differentiation in IgA-positive B cells. Multipotent hematopoietic stem cells give rise to progenitors of T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells."

"The development of B-lineage cells begins in the fetal liver. B-lineage cell development then transfers to the bone marrow when it becomes the major hematopoietic organ. Pre–B cells become immature immunoglobulin M (IgM)–positive B cells and then migrate from the bone marrow to lymph node germinal centers. After leaving the bone marrow, the B cells mature and express immunoglobulin D receptors, respond to antigens, and, with the help of T cells (CD4+), undergo proliferation and plasma cell differentiation (International Union of Immunological Societies, 1999)."

"The immunoglobulin molecule: That's a rather complex molecule! Well, the lymph nodes crank out this protein molecule to go after foreign bodies in an organism.

Too low numbers found in a blood test just means that particular means of defense is too low, possibly in decline.

Something is impeding the lymphs; bad nutrition, poisoning, old age, etc. Trick is to discover what caused such a condition.
I suspect you're on the path to connect that ester-alcohol solvent C6H14O2/CH3(CH2)2CH2OCH2CH2OH to lymph damage. Since the liver is definitely damaged with that substance just like longterm metalysis of ethanol, follows other organs will suffer as well."

I met Mike Simmons when he gave permission to use some of his 'pianodude' music to the website I was working on.

Then he added this http://www.valdezlink.com/media-ak/Exxon_Valdez_Movie.swf

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IgG: Immunoglobulin G, a major class of immunoglobulins found in the blood, including many of the most common antibodies circulating in the blood. Also known as gamma globulin.

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MERCK medical dictionary has some pretty good definitions, check this chapter on immune: THE MERCK MANUAL, Sec. 12, Ch. 146, Biology Of The Immune System and

THE MERCK MANUAL, Sec. 11, Ch. 145, Aids-Associated Hematologic Disorders And Malignancies

Could this be an autoimmune thing going on?

If your system is out of balance, such as what I expect to be found eventually for those with hemolytic anemia from 2-butoxyethanol or diethylene glycol monobutyl ether ...