Hormone Modulates Immune Cell Activation after Cigarette Smoke Exposure in Mice.

Recent study says leptin may modulate the immune responses from cigarette smoke. Other studies demonstrate that leptin and Il-6 may be involved with sickness syndrome and may include modulation of hormones that regulate behavior such as orexins and may contribute to inflammation-induced insulin resistance.

Notes: Recent study also demonstrates that cigarette smoke induced epigenetic changes in epithelial cells in vitro that may contribute to cancer growth.

CiteULike: Leptin Modulates Innate and Adaptive Immune Cell Recruitment after Cigarette Smoke Exposure in Mice.: "Vernooy, J. H., Bracke, K. R., Drummen, N. E., Pauwels, N. S., Zabeau, L., van Suylen, R. J. J., Tavernier, J., Joos, G. F., Wouters, E. F., and Brusselle, G. G. (2010). Leptin modulates innate and adaptive immune cell recruitment after cigarette smoke exposure in mice. Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)."


HEIRS H&H






Harden, L. M., du Plessis, I., Poole, S., and Laburn, H. P. (2006). Interleukin-6 and leptin mediate lipopolysaccharide-induced fever and sickness behavior. Physiology & behavior, 89(2):146-155.
http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/4745011
Liu, F., Killian, J. K., Yang, M., Walker, R. L., Hong, J. A., Zhang, M., Davis, S., Zhang, Y., Hussain, M., Xi, S., Rao, M., Meltzer, P. A., and Schrump, D. S. (2010). Epigenomic alterations and gene expression profiles in respiratory epithelia exposed to cigarette smoke condensate. Oncogene, aop(current).
http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/7154109

Alterations of BDNF, Behavior Hormones in PTSD, Fibromyalgia and Other Environmental Illnesses

Many experts believe that the functions of the hypothalamus are dysrupted in environmental illness. We recently blogged about how hypothalamus-stimulated signaling of  BDNF levels are altered in a number of environmental illnesses. In fibromyalgia they are increased while in other are they are lower. A more recent report has indeed supported the fact that BDNF levels are increased in fibromyalgia. Also, they have demonstrated that this hormone is elevated shortly after trauma in PTSD and evens out over time. Interestingly, these findings were independant of severity, psychiatric history and treatments with medication. Because BDNF has been implicated in learning and memory the higher levels of this protein may contribute to the pathology of PTSD and considering they are elevated in fibromyalgia, one may suspect they also contribute to the pathology of fibromyalgia also. Of course, further evidence is warranted but these findings are interesting none-the-less.

Note:

• Orexin is another signaling peptide of the hypothalamus and it has been demonstrated that altered levels are consistent with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, PTSD and panic attacks. We have discussed this hormone in other blogs and explained, it dictates a number of different animal behaviors and is sexually dimorphic and plays a role in sickness behavior.  In addition, there is an important connection between orexins and BDNF. Dopamine are regulators of orexins and low levels are also associated with Parkinson's disease.
• BDNF is mediated by GSk-3b which is implicated in a number of psychological disorders and can be activated by environmental exposures. (Mai)

For further Reading:

• Sleepiness in CFS and Fibromyalgia May Be a Form of Narcolepsy!

Reference Library Tags: orexin, narcolepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, PTSD, BDNF
                HEIRS Blogs: orexins, BDNF, chronic fatigue syndrome, sickness syndrome, fibromyalgia,  PTSD,


Strawn, J. R., Pyne-Geithman, G. J., Ekhator, N. N., Horn, P. S., Uhde, T. W., Shutter, L. A., Baker, D. G., and Geracioti, T. D. (2010). Low cerebrospinal fluid and plasma orexin-a (hypocretin-1) concentrations in combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6644003
Thannickal, T. C., Lai, Y.-Y., and Siegel, J. M. (2007). Hypocretin (orexin) loss in parkinson's disease. Medscape Today.  http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6640584
Bubser, M., Fadel, J. R., Jackson, L. L., Meador-Woodruff, J. H., Jing, D., and Deutch, A. Y. (2005). Dopaminergic regulation of orexin neurons. The European journal of neuroscience, 21(11):2993-3001. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6463668
Gaykema, R. P. and Goehler, L. E. (2009). Lipopolysaccharide challenge-induced suppression of fos in hypothalamic orexin neurons: their potential role in sickness behavior. Brain, behavior, and immunity, 23(7):926-930. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/4967509
Stanley, S., Wynne, K., McGowan, B., and Bloom, S. (2005). Hormonal regulation of food intake. Physiol. Rev., 85(4):1131-1158. http://physrev.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/85/4/1131/F2
Mai, L., Jope, R. S., and Li, X. (2002). Bdnf-mediated signal transduction is modulated by gsk3β and mood stabilizing agents. Journal of Neurochemistry, 82(1):75-83. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6621876

Sleepiness in CFS and Fibromyalgia May Be a Form of Narcolepsy!

In our recent blog discussed how orexin(hypocretin) effects sleep patterns and may have an important role in CFS and sickness syndrome. A new study using a pharmaceutical called sodium oxybate showed significant improvement in patients in fatigue with both chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia and point to the "real possibility" that sleep problems in these conditions are similar to narcolepsy. In addition, the study suggests, even though further study is warranted that both CFS and FM are similar or not the same condition because of the improvements seen in patients with them.  We have noted similarities to sickness syndrome in these conditions and have emphasized that sickness syndrome also occurs in animals and importantly, narcolepsy also is not exclusive to humans and in often seen in dogs. Some breeds more commonly than others.

Other recent discoveries indicate that the major pathophysiology of human narcolepsy "is the loss of lateral hypothalamic neurons that produce the neuropeptide hypocretin (orexin). Approximately 90% of people diagnosed as having narcolepsy with cataplexy are hypocretin ligand deficient." Narcolepsy is thought to be an autoimmune related disorder and can alter regulation of cortisol and influence steroid production which also may initiate panic.  In our recent blog, we wrote how streptococcus pneumoniae may be an important trigger of orexin-influenced narcoleptic sleep behavior. This is important because this pathogen effects the severity of H1N1 and may mean that patients with EI may be more susceptible to both. Parkinsonism is also associated with alterations in hypocretin and future therapies in PD may involve treatments involving orexin. Some suggest that narcolepsy and Parkinson's disease have a common and therefore, one must begin to hypothesize that CFS and fibromyalgia may have the same or similar causal factors as PD and and narcolepsy.

For Further Reading About Orexins in CFS, Sickness Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, see

• How Changes in Neurons May Lead to Altered Cortisol in CFS/ME & Sickness Syndrome. HEIRS, January 1, 2010.
• Hormone Linked to Panic Attacks Also Linked to Endotoxin and Sickness Behavior

Spitzer, A. R. and Broadman, M. (2010). Treatment of the narcoleptiform sleep disorder in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia with sodium oxybate. Pain Practice, 10(1):54-59. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6512085
Zeitzera, J. M., Nishinob, S., and Mignotc, E. (2006). The neurobiology of hypocretins (orexins), narcolepsy and related therapeutic interventions. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, (27):368-374. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6512089
Thannickal, T. C., Lai, Y.-Y., and Siegel, J. M. (2007). Hypocretin (orexin) loss in parkinson's disease. Medscape Today. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6512132