Lyme disease future or investigational therapies
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Future and investigational therapies of Lyme disease are directed towards decreasing the pro inflammatory immune process and decreasing Th1 upregulation. Studies have also been conducted to test the role of neurohormones in neuropsychiatric complications of Lyme disease.
Future or Investigational Therapies
Neuroendocrine
- A developing hypothesis is that the chronic secretion of stress hormones as a result of Borrelia infection may reduce the effect of neurotransmitters, or other receptors in the brain by cell-mediated pro-inflammatory pathways, thereby leading to the dysregulation of neurohormones, specifically glucocorticoids and catecholamines, the major stress hormones.[1][2]
- This process is mediated via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
- Additionally, tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin, appears to be reduced within the CNS in a number of infectious diseases that affect the brain, including Lyme disease.[3]
- Researchers are investigating if this neurohormone secretion is the cause of neuro-psychiatric disorders that develop in some patients with borreliosis.[4]
- Antidepressants acting on serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine receptors have been shown to be immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory against pro-inflammatory cytokine processes, specifically on the regulation of IFN-gamma and IL-10, as well as TNF-alpha and IL-6 through a psycho-neuroimmunological process.[5]
- Antidepressants have also been shown to suppress Th1 upregulation.[6]
- These studies warrant investigation of antidepressants for use in a psycho-neuroimmunological approach for optimal pharmacotherapy of antibiotic refractory Lyme patients.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (which is used conventionally to treat a number of other conditions), as an adjunct to antibiotics for Lyme has been discussed.[7]
- Though there are no published data from clinical trials to support its use, preliminary results using a mouse model suggest its effectiveness against B. burgdorferi both in vitro and in vivo.[8]
Antifungal medications
- Anecdotal clinical research has shown potential for the antifungal azole medications such as fluconazole for the treatment of Lyme disease, but this has yet to be repeated in a controlled study or postulated a developed hypothetical model for its use.[9]
Alternative medicine
- One approach in the field of alternative medicine is the use of bee venom to treat Lyme disease because it contains the peptide melittin, which has been shown to exert inhibitory effects on Lyme bacteria in vitro; however, no clinical trials of this treatment have been carried out.[10]
New Developments
- New research has also found that chronic Lyme patients have higher amounts of Borrelia-specific forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) than healthy controls, indicating that regulatory T cells might also play a role, by immunosuppression, in the development of chronic Lyme disease.
- FoxP3 are a specific marker of regulatory T cells.[11]
- The signaling pathway P38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAP kinase) has also been identified as promoting expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines from Borrelia.[12]
- The culmination of these new and ongoing immunological studies suggest this cell-mediated immune disruption in Lyme patients amplifies the inflammatory process, often rendering it chronic and self-perpetuating, regardless of whether the Borrelia bacterium is still present in the host, or in the absence of the inciting pathogen in an autoimmune pattern.[13]
- Researchers hope that this new developing understanding of the biomolecular basis and pathology of cell-mediated signaling events caused by B. burgdorferi infection will lead to a greater understanding of immune response and inflammation caused by Lyme disease and, hopefully, new treatment strategies for chronic, antibiotic-resistant disease.
Lyme Funding and Treatment Controversy
- Many of the scientists involved in formulating what have become controversial Lyme diagnostic tests and treatment guidelines have been heavily involved in both bioweapons research and commercial vaccine and diagnostic test development, which the Lyme patient community views as a conflict of interest. [14]
- In response to these and other concerns expressed by the expanding national community of patients, Richard Blumenthal, the Attorney General of Connecticut, has launched an investigation exploring possible corruption.
- To date, federal research aimed at developing treatments for chronic Lyme disease is roughly $30 million, as contrasted to a $22 billion budget for military biodefense.
- Scientists setting Lyme treatment and diagnostic testing policy in the United States have a well publicized history in the biodefense field, and many have recently received lucrative biodefense grants for BSL-3 and BSL-4 labs where, critics contend, Lyme treatment research lacks transparency, accountability, and focus on treatment research.[15][16]
- In 2003, Lyme researcher Dr. Mark Klempner was appointed head of the new $1.6 billion biodefense top-security facility at Boston University.[17]
- In 2004, Lyme researcher Dr. Jorge Benach was reportedly chosen as a recipient for a $3 million biodefense research grant, and in 2005, Lyme researcher Dr. Alan Barbour was reportedly placed in charge of a new, $40 million biodefense complex based at UC Irvine.[18][19]
- Former NIH Lyme disease program officer Edward McSweegan has published numerous articles and letters to editor pages relating to biowarfare topics ranging from anthrax to plague.
- Curiously, Mr. McSweegan's novel, Deliberate Release, is a biowarfare thriller that describes the deliberate release of a germ weapon.[20]
References
- ↑ Elenkov IJ, Iezzoni DG, Daly A, Harris AG, Chrousos GP (2005). "Cytokine dysregulation, inflammation and well-being". Neuroimmunomodulation. 12 (5): 255–69. doi:10.1159/000087104. PMID 16166805.
- ↑ Calcagni E, Elenkov I (2006). "Stress system activity, innate and T helper cytokines, and susceptibility to immune-related diseases". Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 1069: 62–76. doi:10.1196/annals.1351.006. PMID 16855135.
- ↑ Gasse T, Murr C, Meyersbach P; et al. (1994). "Neopterin production and tryptophan degradation in acute Lyme neuroborreliosis versus late Lyme encephalopathy". European journal of clinical chemistry and clinical biochemistry : journal of the Forum of European Clinical Chemistry Societies. 32 (9): 685–9. PMID 7865624.
- ↑ Zajkowska J, Grygorczuk S, Kondrusik M, Pancewicz S, Hermanowska-Szpakowicz T (2006). "New aspects of pathogenesis of Lyme borreliosis". Przegla̧d epidemiologiczny (in Polish). 60 Suppl 1: 167–70. PMID 16909797.
- ↑ Kubera M, Lin AH, Kenis G, Bosmans E, van Bockstaele D, Maes M (2001). "Anti-Inflammatory effects of antidepressants through suppression of the interferon-gamma/interleukin-10 production ratio". Journal of clinical psychopharmacology. 21 (2): 199–206. PMID 11270917.
- ↑ Diamond M, Kelly JP, Connor TJ (2006). "Antidepressants suppress production of the Th1 cytokine interferon-gamma, independent of monoamine transporter blockade". European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology. 16 (7): 481–90. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2005.11.011. PMID 16388933.
- ↑ Taylor R, Simpson I (2005). "Review of treatment options for Lyme borreliosis". J Chemother. 17 Suppl 2: 3–16. PMID 16315580.
- ↑ Pavia C (2003). "Current and novel therapies for Lyme disease". Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 12 (6): 1003–16. PMID 12783604.
- ↑ Schardt FW (2004). "Clinical effects of fluconazole in patients with neuroborreliosis". Eur. J. Med. Res. 9 (7): 334–6. PMID 15337633.
- ↑ Lubke LL, Garon CF (1997). "The antimicrobial agent melittin exhibits powerful in vitro inhibitory effects on the Lyme disease spirochete". Clin. Infect. Dis. 25 Suppl 1: S48–51. PMID 9233664.
- ↑ Jarefors S, Janefjord CK, Forsberg P, Jenmalm MC, Ekerfelt C (2007). "Decreased up-regulation of the interleukin-12Rbeta2-chain and interferon-gamma secretion and increased number of forkhead box P3-expressing cells in patients with a history of chronic Lyme borreliosis compared with asymptomatic Borrelia-exposed individuals". Clin. Exp. Immunol. 147 (1): 18–27. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2249.2006.03245.x. PMID 17177959.
- ↑ Ramesh G, Philipp MT (2005). "Pathogenesis of Lyme neuroborreliosis: mitogen-activated protein kinases Erk1, Erk2, and p38 in the response of astrocytes to Borrelia burgdorferi lipoproteins". Neurosci. Lett. 384 (1–2): 112–6. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2005.04.069. PMID 15893422.
- ↑ Singh SK, Girschick HJ (2006). "Toll-like receptors in Borrelia burgdorferi-induced inflammation". Clin. Microbiol. Infect. 12 (8): 705–17. doi:10.1111/j.1469-0691.2006.01440.x. PMID 16842565.
- ↑ Conflicts of Interest in Lyme Disease: Treatment, Laboratory Testing, and Vaccination, Lyme Disease Association Inc., 2001
- ↑ Biocontainment lab planned at Primate Center, PONTCHARTRAIN NEWSPAPERS COVINGTON, St.Tammany News, www.newsbanner.com Dec. 13, 2004
- ↑ "Lyme Disease is Biowarfare Issue" by Elena Cooke, published/discussed by Dave Emory, WFMU Talk Show Host, 2007 http://ftrsupplemental.blogspot.com/2007/02/history-of-lyme-disease-as-bioweapon.html
- ↑ Washington Post January 22, 2005
- ↑ NYStar News Publication of the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research, August 2004
- ↑ UCI Medical Centre, June 1, 2005
- ↑ McSweegan, Edward , "Deliberate Release", published September 20, 2002 by 1st Books Library, ISBN-10: 1403343535.