Autophagy

On recycling, inflammation, aluminium, autism, genetics and vaccine injury.

Jan 22, 2023

The first time I ever heard the word autophagy was when a reader sent me a recent research paper looking at inflammation, autophagy, aluminium and autism, late last year.

I’ve mentioned that paper once before, here:

The Political Economy of Autism - Lies are Unbekoming (substack.com)

But this time I want to spend more time on it and try to unpack some of its threads.

One of my motivations for writing this Substack, is that it forces me to understand something well enough to then explain it to someone else. If I don’t feel I can explain something, in relatively simple terms, to another curious soul, I’ll avoid talking and definitely writing about it. So, there is a selfish component to this whole enterprise.

I want to start off with autophagy, what the hell is it? Is it something to do with cars?

Autophagy

Autophagy is a cellular process that involves the breakdown and recycling of cellular components, such as damaged or unnecessary proteins and organelles1 [parts or organs of cells]. This process helps to maintain cellular homeostasis2 [balance] and can be induced in response to stress or nutrient deprivation [can be brought about by fasting, more on that later]. Autophagy is essential for the normal functioning of cells and has been linked to a variety of physiological processes, including aging and disease.

It is an incredibly important and wide-ranging process that can be understood and imagined in many ways:

As a "cellular garbage disposal" similar to how a kitchen garbage disposal breaks down and grinds up food waste. Just as a garbage disposal breaks down food waste and flushes it out of the kitchen, autophagy breaks down and removes damaged or unnecessary cellular components to keep the cell clean and functioning properly.
As a "cellular recycling program." Just as a recycling program sorts and processes materials for reuse, autophagy sorts through cellular components and recycles or repurposes them for the cell's benefit.
As a "cellular cleaning crew," similar to how a janitor cleans up and maintains a building. Just as a janitor removes trash and debris to keep a building in good condition, autophagy removes damaged or unnecessary cellular components to keep the cell healthy.
As a "cellular survival mechanism" in a similar way a plant or tree does in harsh environment where resources are scarce. Just as a plant or tree adapts to survive by shedding leaves or branches, a cell activates autophagy to survive by shedding unnecessary or damaged parts.

As a "cellular survival kit" similar to how a backpacker carries essential supplies for survival in the wilderness. Just as a backpacker carries a limited supply of food and water, a cell activates autophagy to break down stored nutrients and recycle them to survive in times of stress or nutrient deprivation.
As a "cellular repair and maintenance team" similar to how a mechanic maintains and repairs a car. Just as a mechanic replaces worn out parts and performs regular maintenance to keep a car running smoothly, autophagy removes damaged or unnecessary components and recycles them to keep the cell functioning properly.

An analogy that incorporates several of these mechanisms would be:

Imagine that your body is a big factory, made up of lots of tiny machines called cells. Each cell is like a little machine in the factory that has its own job to do. And each little machine has its own component parts [organelles]. Just like how a factory needs to be cleaned and maintained to stay in good condition, your cells need to be cleaned and maintained to stay healthy. And just like how a factory has a maintenance team that comes in to remove trash and debris, your cells have a "maintenance team" called autophagy that comes in to remove damaged or unnecessary components and recycling or repurposing them.
The maintenance team, autophagy, goes through each machine (cell) and checks for things that are broken or not needed anymore. They take out the trash, like old or damaged proteins, and clean up the debris, like damaged organelles. But unlike a cleaning crew that throws everything away, the maintenance team recycles and repurposes the debris, like broken down proteins, for the cell's benefit. This helps to keep the cells in good condition, just like how cleaning and maintaining a factory helps to keep it in good condition.
As the factory gets dirty again over time and needs to be cleaned again, your cells can also get dirty again and need to be cleaned again. Autophagy, the maintenance team, is always working to keep your cells healthy by removing and recycling cellular components.

Now, before anyone jumps on my back, I know that this mechanistic view of the world is wrong, our body and cells are infinitely more complex than that. I’ve written about Gaia and Gaia thinking a few times now. But we need to start somewhere when explaining things to those that have no clue what a word means let alone all the concepts behind it.

Before we dig into the paper, I will ask you to spend a bit of time in the footnote on inflammation3. I just want you to wrap your head around this most complex of miracles. We have been fooled into thinking we understand it. We don't. Industry just pretends that it does. Autophagy and inflammation are separate processes, but they do interconnect4.

Ok, now that we have a basic understanding of what’s going on, let’s have a look at the research paper I was sent.

Inflammation and Autophagy: A Convergent Point between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)-Related Genetic and Environmental Factors: Focus on Aluminum Adjuvants

Here is a high-level overview of the study kindly provided me by my reader who knows a bit more about this stuff than I do:

This work is a review of all relevant published papers questioning a potential relationship between genes and environment in the development of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
The authors focus on a cellular mechanism called «autophagy», that is involved in early development of brain and in immune response. Troubles in this process have been described in ASD patients and animal models of ASD.
The environmental factors the authors choose to study are Aluminium adjuvants, used as «improvers» of immune response in 2/3 of human vaccines. They are used for a century, but their safety is not proven. The role of an adjuvant is to be a pro-inflammatory component. Studies have shown that they may be persistent in the organism and that their low ability of clearance may be linked to autophagy process. By the way, Aluminium is a well-known neurotoxin.
The links between Al adjuvants of vaccines and ASD are the following ones:
the immune and nervous systems (among others) are interconnected: the same molecules condition both systems;
early immune activation (directly or through maternal organism) is a well-known cause of neurodevelopmental disorders;
vaccination aims to repetitively activate the immune system and Al-adjuvants may thus induce an early persistent pro-inflammatory response;
several published papers have shown a link between Al-adjuvant exposure and ASD.

I want to digress just for a moment and review some old ground briefly. Overall, we have a decent understanding of how we get from aluminium in vaccines to autism (which this recent study adds further richness to). Here are 11 pieces of the puzzle that we now know:

Real Autism Science - Lies are Unbekoming (substack.com)

1.    The brain has its own immune system, and it has been woken up, activated, to fight “something”, and this fight is causing inflammation and swelling.
2.    Activating the brain’s immune system causes (or to be polite and probabilistic: significantly increases the risk of) autism.
3.    The brains immune system produces too much IL-6 and that interferes with synapse formation
4.    Immune activation in the child can be triggered by the mother, or by “something else” after birth.
5.    Aluminium adjuvants cause immune activation and brain swelling.
6.    A particular type of white blood cell, a macrophage, acting as the body’s garbagemen, and doing their job, “clean up” or “gobble up” the aluminum, but they cannot “digest” it, so it stays inside them “the garbage truck” and gets sent around the body, including to the brain.
The garbage men deliver the aluminum to the brain, acting, unwittingly, as Trojan horses.
Watch this amazing clip of “a garbage man” in action.
7.    The aluminium causes the immune activation, and because it cannot be “processed” it causes permanent immune activation, inflammation and swelling.
8.    Small regular doses of aluminum, as in a 42 (Australia) or 72 (USA) dose vaccine schedule are much more dangerous than a single large dose, because the body reacts to the large dose in a way that “packages” it and keeps it in the arm. It doesn’t put it in the garbage truck and move it around. It will simply “warp” it safely and let it sit on the street to be thrown into a nearby landfill.
9.    Aluminium, in the brain, triggers elevated IL-6, which causes autism.
10. One of the vaccines, Hep B, causes increased IL-6, which causes autism.
11. We have discovered large amounts of aluminium deposits in autistic brains.

Back to the study. Here is a simple summary of the study’s abstract:

This abstract is talking about scientific research that is trying to understand the causes of autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. These disorders are related to the brain development, and it's thought that they may be caused by a combination of genetics and environment. Researchers are studying certain factors that may be related to the development of autism such as: how genetics affects the immune system, the growth and development of the nervous system, inflammation and problems with a process called autophagy. They are also looking at environmental factors such as vaccines as a potential cause of autism. The researchers have found that there is not enough information available on the environmental factors and their potential impact on autism and are suggesting more research be done.

Some of my thoughts reading this abstract, and this paper, overall:

How the hell do these researchers get to do this type of work and then get it published. Basically, pointing an accusatory finger at vaccine aluminium and autism. No way it would be published in the US. But France is no better, it is the land of Pasteur and Sanofi, a holy cathedral of germ theory and vaccination. It cannot be easy and my hat off to all the researchers doing this work. They must be under intense pressure.

I think there are several clues as to why this might get through:

It hints at genetic causes. Now there might be some, but my intuition is that the emphasis of genetics is exaggerated generally (even wildly exaggerated), not so much in this paper though. Here it gets what I think is a token mention. Just as it is a useful trick up the sleeve of industry to hide environmental harm, I think it is used as a counter measure by honest actors to camouflage, and get published, real research.
It proposes additional research into genetic studies, which will never be frowned upon by industry.
It refers to “populations at genetic risk” which implies that the risk of vaccines might be small and specific to genetic groups. This I belief is the researchers taking a knee to the orthodoxy, if they don’t frame their position this way, they are likely to get starved of funding and never get published. I could be wrong, but I don’t think so. This is research politics at its best.
And lastly it points to “developing new therapeutic tools” which is always good for business, industry and the machine. If it had concluded with “and we recommend the removal of aluminum from all vaccines” nobody would know about their work. It would simply have vanished. These are experienced medical “freedom fighters” who know how to play the game.

This is the first time I’ve seen “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder” in one sentence. If ASD is caused by persistent inflammation, messing about with the brain’s normal development, it makes perfect sense to me that other mental disorders would emerge from exactly the same environment, such as schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

It clearly and unambiguously points the finger at aluminium, specifically vaccine injected aluminium via vaccines, and discusses its causal relationship to autism. Basically, in this day and age, this is scientific blasphemy.

I’m now going to extract particular passages of the study that I find interesting and informative, with a few comments and plenty of footnotes to cover some of the language that assumes existing knowledge:

These observations resemble the well-described phenomenon of microglial priming5, the exaggerated inflammatory state and response from glial6 cells to their microenvironment. Primed7 glial cells maintain a more active-like morphology (e.g., amoeboid or reactive) in reaction to a baseline stimulus, such as infection, trauma, or aging. However, compared to acutely activated glia, primed cells do not release cytokines and other pro-inflammatory molecules on a long-term basis. Instead, when confronted with a challenge, primed cells generate more cytokines in the brain than unprimed cells.

This is the immune activation caused by the aluminium that has been smuggled into the brain. It’s the first piece of the eleven piece puzzle above, and in the footnotes I have fleshed out some detail of what these terms actually mean.

Among the variety of environmental factors suspected to contribute to the pathophysiology of NDDs, repeated early exposures to aluminum (Al)-containing vaccines during critical developmental periods of both nervous and immune systems has received unique attention. In the past five decades, growing concerns have been raised among the scientific community and the general public, through sometimes counter-productive conflicts, on the effects and safety of these compounds within the organism. Among these questions, adjuvant kinetics and potential chronic adverse effects, especially when given early in life, are noteworthy. Of note, the epidemiological studies evaluating any links between vaccination and NDDs did not specifically address Al adjuvant exposure, since most of them focused on Al-free vaccines (measles, mumps and rubella, MMR).

The last passage is important to note. When the establishment wants to make a show of “studying” NDDs, they will do it in an aluminum free environment.

World-wide large-scale investigations estimate that the global prevalence of ASD is 1–2%. More specifically, based on the most recent available statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tracking for this since 1996, ASD in the United States affects 1 child in 44 (2021 figure for the year 2018), while the prevalence of ASD in Europe varies from 0.44% to 1.97% of children aged 7–9 years old (i.e., from 1 in 51 children to 1 in 227 children), with an average calculated prevalence of 1.22% (i.e., 1 in 89 children). In Asia, a meta-analysis of published data found that the pooled calculated ASD prevalence is growing, calculated at 0.36% (i.e., 1 in 278 children).

1-2% of the world has ASD!

Is there anything else that 1-2% of the world has?

The scale of what they have done to humanity beggars description.

Genetics
Over the past 20 years, despite the extraordinary degree of etiological heterogeneity, the search for ASD genes has been remarkably successful. More than 100 large-effect, rare (often de novo) mutations have been identified in the coding genome. At present, microarray and whole-exome sequencing studies focus on rare variants with convincing statistical support for the association of about a dozen copy number variants (CNVs) and more than 100 genes, a number which is rapidly expanding. More recent studies involving extensive case-control cohorts successfully identified associations with common risk alleles of modest effect, making possible the quantification of cumulative common genetic risks (polygenic risk score) to address polygenic inheritance8. Moreover, substantial evidence shows that certain environmental factors could lead to altered epigenetic marks9, increasing the risk of neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with ASD and their comorbidities.

Hmmm. Let’s see if I understand this. There are 100+ genes, that by themselves, or in combination, when interacting with their “environment” can “increase the risk” of ASD.

I think that’s like saying that a blind, deaf and mute man (having three genetic markers) was quietly walking down a sidewalk, when he fell into a gaping hole in the sidewalk (environmental factor), and ultimately to his death. I can see geneticists writing volumes of books on how his genetic markers led to his demise, while ignoring, silencing, cancelling, defunding, anyone who wanted to talk about the hole in the sidewalk. That’s modern-day genetics.

If it wasn’t for the aluminum in the body (the hole in the sidewalk), none of the genetic markers would matter.

I want to be very clear. This team of researchers, in my opinion, are doing God’s work. They are, without question, the good guys and girls. They are simply playing the game, giving the machine some of what it wants and needs, and smuggling in all the good stuff while doing it.

I think this is the golden passage for the orthodoxy and might be the main reason they allow this paper to get through. One way of reading it is that “we are finding more and more genetic explanations for autism” which is sweet, sweet music to industries’ ears.

I can see this passage weaponised in the future as pure grade victim blaming. I can just see the GP, or more likely the paediatrician, talking calmly and reassuringly to the parents of a newly diagnosed autistic child, that the paediatrician poisoned, saying “we now know what causes autism, it’s genetic, I can send you a passage from some great research on it if you want”. And I can hear the silent thoughts of the parents “it’s our fault”.

I can see them developing genetic tests for all these “markers” and young conscientious parents doing genetic tests and being told, “your children are highly likely to have autism, it’s in your genes”, and I can see those same parents, over the coming weeks have several conversations about whether to have a child or not and whether to put that burden on their future kids. “Maybe we can adopt instead”.

I think that genetics is possibly now the most weaponised of all the medical “sciences” and I’m sure there are some truths to be found in its wasteland, but I doubt most geneticists understand that they are the driver of the getaway vehicle, that they are the fake alibi, that they are the lipstick on the pig, that they are the new paint job over the mouldy wall…pick your analogy. But that’s my general opinion of genetics. It’s being weaponised into a scam, to cover up other scams.

Neuronal autophagy is essential for early synaptic pruning10, the developmental process whereby over 70% of postnatal net spines11 [small, finger-like projections that protrude from the dendrites] are eliminated during the normal course of brain maturation to ensure the relevant formation of appropriate neuronal connections.

Imagine that! 70% of this most delicate circuitry is removed. Imagine the perfect symphony that must be going on inside of that baby, as the brain and nervous system is being formed. As consciousness itself is being formed. Image pouring aluminium into this perfection. Imagine starting the fire of inflammation during this symphony. Imagine doing all of that and then playing dumb as to what might have caused the destruction of the building. Imagine, and weep.

Autophagy and Microbiota
Beyond the key role of autophagy at the level of CNS, another function of this cellular process seems to be relevant in the field of NDDs. Indeed, a clear role has emerged for autophagy in intestinal homeostasis, affecting cell metabolism, as well as proliferative and regenerative capacity. These recent data are particularly interesting considering that (i) the gut microbiota influences brain function through the neuroendocrine, neuroimmune, and autonomic nervous systems and via microbiotic toxin production, and (ii) both gut microbiota and inflammation could have a key role in the pathophysiology of NDDs.

This is good stuff. Elite research highlighting gut damage in an ASD paper, while discussing aluminium.

As my reader outlined to me, that Al adjuvants may cause "gut injury" indirectly, by the persistent pro-inflammatory situation they provoke, causing intestinal chronic inflammation.

So, it seems like it’s the same story again. Aluminium, causing chronic inflammation, causing disease.

I-RECOVER: Post-Vaccine Treatment - FLCCC | Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (covid19criticalcare.com)

The core problem in post-vaccine syndrome is long-lasting “immune dysregulation.” The most important treatment goal is to help the body restore a healthy immune system — in other words, to let the body heal itself. Our recommended treatment strategy involves two major approaches:
Promote autophagy to help rid the cells of the spike protein
Use interventions that limit the toxicity/pathogenicity of the spike protein

There’s autophagy again!

This document mentions autophagy 41 times:

I-RECOVER-Post-Vax-Jan-9-FINAL.pdf (covid19criticalcare.com)

Intermittent daily fasting or periodic daily fasts.
Fasting has a profound effect on promoting immune system homeostasis, partly by stimulating the clearing of damaged cells (autophagy), damaged mitochondria (mitophagy), and misfolded and foreign proteins. Fasting also improves mitochondrial health and increases stem cell production. Autophagy plays an important role in preventing Alzheimer’s disease by removing amyloid protein. Autophagy likely removes spike protein and misfolded proteins induced by the spike protein. Autophagy may therefore play a critical role in reversing the “spikopathy” induced by COVID injections. Indeed, activation of autophagy may be the only mechanism to remove intracellular spike protein.

“A little starvation can really do more for the average sick man than can the best medicines and the best doctors.” —Mark Twain (1835-1910)

So, fasting is a key component of vaccine injury recover.

It seems that the damn spike protein inhibits autophagy:

Patients with long COVID and those post-vaccination may have spike protein circulating in the blood for as long as 15 months. [16-18] Spike protein inhibits natural killer (NK) cell activity, [19- 22] cytotoxic T-cells, and inhibits autophagy [23]; this may account for the persistence of the spike protein.

But fasting triggers autophagy. In fact, it’s one of the most well-established triggers.

Caffeine is another good trigger.

It is important to stay well-hydrated during fasting periods; drink lots of water and/or an electrolyte solution. In his book the “Complete Guide to Fasting,” Jason Fung, MD recommends drinking coffee with added coconut oil (medium chain triglycerides)/heavy cream (no CHO or protein) during fasting. [98] Remarkably, caffeine stimulates autophagy, [120-122] while coconut oil has numerous health benefits. [123-125]

"RE: NOTICE OF POTENTIAL DISCIPLINARY SANCTION" —The FLCCC News Capsule for July 17, 2022 (substack.com)

Autophagy is the body’s way of cleaning out damaged cells in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells.
As Dr. Marik points out, “Autophagy is the body’s garbage truck.”
Autophagy is an evolutionary self-preservation mechanism through which the body can remove the dysfunctional cells, including spike protein, and recycle parts of them toward cellular repair and cleaning.
“There is only one way to get rid of spike protein, and that's by stimulating autophagy. That is the only way,” said Dr. Marik. “It's a fascinating idea—the concept is that the host heals itself.”
Dr. Mobeen Syed, with his always engaging illustrations, explained exactly how autophagy works in easily understandable terms. Together he and Dr. Marik discussed ways to optimize your own body’s autophagy.

Here is more on the subject from Dr Tess Lawrie:

Detoxing from the spike protein and the role of MCAS (substack.com)

Protocol to detox from the spike protein:
Intermittent fasting
Cold showers
Resveratrol 500mg twice daily
Ivermectin 0.2mg/kg daily with food (if available)
Sodium butyrate 300mg daily
Melatonin (slow release) 2-10mg 3-4 x a week
These encourage autophagy and are cancer protective.

Ok, let’s wrap up this show. I’m certainly a bit wiser about the good, bad and ugly of autophagy, and I hope you are too.

This has been a long piece so thank you for hanging in there.

I’m off to get a coffee…

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If you are Covid vaccine injured, consider the FLCCC Post-Vaccine Treatment

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Organelle

An organelle is a specialized structure within a cell that performs a specific function. Organelles are usually enclosed by a membrane, which separates them from the rest of the cell. Some examples of organelles include:

Mitochondria: responsible for generating energy for the cell
Ribosomes: responsible for protein synthesis
Nucleus: contains the cell's genetic material
Endoplasmic Reticulum: responsible for protein and lipid synthesis
Golgi Apparatus: modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids
Lysosomes: responsible for breaking down and recycling cellular waste products
Chloroplasts: found in plant cells and are responsible for photosynthesis

Peroxisomes: similar to lysosomes, they break down specific molecules, such as fatty acids and amino acids
Centrioles: responsible for cell division
Microvilli: increase the surface area of cells for absorption or secretion
Cilia and flagella: used for cell movement
Vacuoles: store and transport materials within the cell
The cytoskeleton: a network of protein fibers that provides shape and support to the cell

Each type of organelles has a specific structure and function that is critical for the overall function of the cell.

It's worth noting that not all of the organelles mentioned are present in all types of cells, and some cells, like red blood cells, have no organelles at all. The presence and function of organelles are determined by the specific type of cell, and the organism it belongs to.

Cellular homeostasis

Cellular homeostasis refers to the maintenance of a stable internal environment within a cell. This stability is necessary for the proper function and survival of the cell. In order to maintain homeostasis, cells have a variety of mechanisms in place to sense and respond to changes in their environment.

For example, cells have mechanisms to maintain a constant internal pH, to ensure that the concentration of ions and molecules remains within a certain range, and to control the amount of water in the cell. They also have mechanisms to repair or remove damaged components, such as through autophagy and the action of lysosomes.

The maintenance of homeostasis is essential for the proper functioning of cells, and disruptions in homeostasis can lead to cellular dysfunction and disease. Many diseases are linked to disruptions in cellular homeostasis, such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Inflammation

Inflammation is a complex biological response of the body's immune system to injury, infection, or other forms of stress. The main function of inflammation is to remove the initial cause of injury or infection and to initiate the healing process. It is a protective mechanism that helps the body to fight off harmful invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins, as well as to repair damaged tissue.

Inflammation is characterized by a variety of signs and symptoms, including:

Redness and warmth of the affected area
Swelling
Pain
Tenderness
Loss of function of the affected area

The immune system releases a variety of chemical mediators, such as histamine, prostaglandins, and cytokines, that cause blood vessels to dilate and become more permeable. This allows immune cells and other molecules to reach the site of injury or infection more easily.

Inflammation is a normal and beneficial response when it is acute and short-lived, however, when it becomes chronic, it can lead to tissue damage and contribute to the development of various diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The inflammatory response is a complex process that involves a variety of different components, including:

Immune cells: Immune cells such as neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes are key players in the inflammatory response. They are responsible for recognizing and responding to harmful invaders, such as bacteria and viruses, as well as damaged tissue. They also help to clear away debris and promote the healing process.
Chemical mediators: The immune system releases a variety of chemical mediators that play a key role in the inflammatory response. These include:
- Histamine: which causes blood vessels to dilate and become more permeable
- Prostaglandins: which increase blood flow and contribute to pain and fever
- Cytokines: which are signaling molecules that help to coordinate the immune response
- Complement proteins: which contribute to the destruction of harmful invaders
- Chemokines: which help to recruit immune cells to the site of injury or infection
- Leukotrienes: which contribute to the inflammatory response.
Blood vessels: During inflammation, blood vessels in the affected area dilate and become more permeable. This allows immune cells and other molecules to reach the site of injury or infection more easily.
The complement system: is a group of proteins that are activated in response to injury or infection. They help to clear away debris and promote the healing process.
The coagulation system: is activated in response to injury, it helps to stop bleeding by forming blood clots.
The fibrinolytic system: is activated in response to injury, it helps to dissolve blood clots once the bleeding has stopped.

The kallikrein-kinin system: This is a cascade of enzymes that helps to regulate blood flow and contribute to the inflammatory response.
The renin-angiotensin system: This is a cascade of enzymes that helps to regulate blood pressure and contribute to the inflammatory response.
The oxidative and nitrosative stress system: This is a process in which reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are generated in response to injury or infection. These molecules can help to destroy harmful invaders, but they can also cause tissue damage.
The heat shock response: This is a process in which cells respond to injury or stress by increasing the expression of heat shock proteins. These proteins help to protect cells from damage and contribute to the healing process.
The inflammasome: this is a multiprotein complex that plays a central role in the inflammatory response by activating the immune cells and promoting the release of inflammatory cytokines.
The gut-liver axis: the gut and the liver are closely linked by neural, endocrine, and immune pathways, which are activated in response to injury or infection, leading to an inflammatory response.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis: This is a complex system involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands that helps to regulate the body's response to stress and injury.
The sympathetic nervous system: This is a branch of the autonomic nervous system that helps to regulate the body's response to stress and injury by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and other physiological responses.
The vagus nerve: This is a nerve that runs from the brainstem to the abdomen, it plays an important role in regulating the immune response and inflammation.
The microbiome: The community of microorganisms that live in and on the body, particularly in the gut, play a crucial role in regulating the immune response and inflammation.
The extracellular matrix (ECM): The ECM is the complex network of proteins and sugars that surrounds cells and helps to maintain tissue integrity. ECM components can also modulate the inflammatory response by interacting with immune cells.
The epigenome: As I mentioned earlier, epigenetic modifications can affect how genes are expressed and play a role in regulating the inflammatory response.
The protease-antiprotease balance: Proteases are enzymes that break down proteins, while antiproteases are enzymes that inhibit proteases. The balance between these two groups of enzymes can play a role in regulating the inflammatory response.

Autophagy and inflammation

Autophagy and inflammation are two separate processes that can occur in the body, but they can also be interconnected and have an impact on each other.

In some cases, autophagy can help to control inflammation by removing damaged or abnormal proteins, which can help to prevent the development of chronic inflammation. In other cases, inflammation can induce autophagy, in response to infection or injury autophagy can be activated to clear the damaged cells, viruses, or bacteria and promote healing.

Microglial priming

Refers to a state of heightened activity or activation of microglia, which are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia play a critical role in maintaining the health and function of the CNS by monitoring the environment, removing cellular debris, and responding to injury or infection.

In normal conditions, microglia are in a resting state, constantly surveying the environment and responding to changes. However, in certain situations, such as chronic inflammation or injury, microglia can become overactivated and enter a state of "priming."

During priming, microglia are still able to respond to new challenges, but their response is heightened, meaning they become more sensitive and reactive to new stimuli. Microglia in a primed state also produce more proinflammatory molecules, which can contribute to the development of chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration.

Microglial priming has been linked to a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies have suggested that microglial priming may contribute to the development and progression of these disorders by promoting chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration.

Glial cells

Also known as glia or neuroglia, are non-neuronal cells that provide support and protection for the neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). They are the most abundant cells in the brain and spinal cord, outnumbering neurons by a ratio of about 10 to 1. They play a wide range of roles in the nervous system, including:

Supporting and nourishing neurons: Glial cells provide structural support for neurons and help to maintain the proper chemical environment for neuronal function. They also help to provide nutrients, such as glucose and oxygen, to neurons, and remove waste products.
Insulating neurons: Glial cells, such as oligodendrocytes in the CNS and Schwann cells in the PNS, produce myelin, a fatty substance that insulates axons (the long, thin fibers that extend from neurons) and allows for faster and more efficient electrical signaling.
Clearing debris: Glial cells, particularly microglia, act as the immune cells of the nervous system and help to clear away cellular debris and pathogens.
Synapse formation and regulation: Glial cells, such as astrocytes, are involved in the formation and regulation of synapses, the connections between neurons.
Buffering neurotransmitters: Astrocytes can also take up neurotransmitters, like glutamate, that are released by neurons and help to maintain the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain.

In summary, glial cells play an essential role in the nervous system, helping to support, protect, and regulate the neurons that make up the brain and spinal cord.

Primed

In a biological context, the term "primed" typically refers to a state of heightened activity or activation of a particular cell, tissue, or organism in response to a specific stimulus or set of conditions. When cells, tissues, or organisms are primed, they are in a state of heightened readiness and more sensitive to new stimuli.

For example, in the context of microglial priming, microglia are the immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that have become more active or reactive to new stimuli as a result of chronic inflammation or injury. They are still able to respond to new challenges, but their response is heightened, meaning they become more sensitive and reactive to new stimuli.

In summary, "primed" refers to a state of heightened activity or activation in response to a specific stimulus or set of conditions, the organism or cell is more sensitive and reactive to new stimuli.

Polygenic inheritance

Refers to a pattern of inheritance in which multiple genes (and sometimes also environmental factors) interact to influence a particular trait or disease. This is in contrast to a single-gene inheritance, in which a trait or disease is determined by a mutation in a single gene.

For example, in the case of polygenic inheritance, a trait or disease may be influenced by several genes, each of which has a small effect on its own, but when combined, the effects add up to produce a significant impact. This is in contrast to a single-gene disorder, in which a single gene has a large effect on the trait or disease.

In the case of polygenic inheritance of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) it means that many genes of small effect, interact together and with environmental factors, to increase the risk of developing the disorder. The polygenic risk score is a statistical tool that uses the information of the genetic variations and their effect on the disease, to estimate the risk of an individual of developing the disorder.

It is worth noting that polygenic inheritance is a complex phenomenon and that the way multiple genes interact and the environment affects a trait or disease is not yet fully understood. Studies of polygenic inheritance require large sample sizes to detect the small effects of many genes, and they are challenging to analyze, but they are providing important insights into the genetic basis of complex traits and disorders.

Epigenetic markers

Are chemical modifications to the DNA molecule or to the proteins with which DNA interacts. These modifications do not change the underlying DNA sequence, but they do affect how genes are expressed, or turned on and off.

The most well-known epigenetic modifications are DNA methylation and histone modification. DNA methylation is the process by which methyl groups are added to the DNA molecule, this can affect the activity of a gene by blocking the attachment of the proteins required for gene expression. Histone modification is the process by which chemical groups are added to the histone proteins around which DNA is wrapped, these modifications can change the shape of chromatin, which can affect the accessibility of the DNA to the proteins required for gene expression.

Epigenetic markers can be passed down from one generation to the next, and they can also be influenced by environmental factors. For example, certain environmental toxins or nutrition can lead to changes in epigenetic markers, which in turn can increase the risk of certain diseases such as cancer or neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Epigenetic modifications can be reversible, meaning that the effects of environmental factors on the epigenetic markers can be mitigated or even reversed, which opens new possibilities for therapy.

It's worth noting that the field of epigenetics is rapidly evolving and that the understanding of how epigenetic markers function and how they interact with the genetic and environmental factors is still ongoing.

Synaptic pruning

During early brain development, there is an overproduction of synapses, which is known as exuberant synaptogenesis. This overproduction is thought to be necessary for the proper formation of neural connections and the development of normal cognitive abilities. Once the brain has formed the necessary connections, it begins to prune away the unnecessary synapses through a process known as synaptic pruning. This process is thought to be critical for normal brain development, as it helps to refine the connections between nerve cells and shape the developing brain.

In the first two years of life, the brain undergoes a rapid period of growth and development, during which there is a significant amount of synaptic pruning. For example, studies have shown that the density of synapses in the cerebral cortex, which is the part of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions, is highest at birth and then declines rapidly until around 2 years of age. This decline in synapse density is thought to be due to the process of synaptic pruning.

The process of synaptic pruning is thought to be dependent on the level of neural activity. Synapses that are frequently used are strengthened, while those that are not used are eliminated. This is thought to be the mechanism by which the brain shapes itself during development, forming a neural network that is best suited to the environment and the specific experiences of the individual.

Synaptic pruning is thought to be a crucial process for normal brain development and is linked to the normal functioning of the nervous system and the development of cognitive abilities such as learning, memory, and perception. Impaired synaptic pruning has been linked to a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia.

Recent research has suggested that autophagy plays a key role in the process of synaptic pruning. Autophagy is thought to be involved in the elimination of synapses that are not being used or are not useful. By breaking down and recycling the proteins and organelles that make up synapses, autophagy may help to eliminate unnecessary synapses and shape the developing brain.

Furthermore, autophagy is also thought to be involved in the regulation of neural activity, by removing unnecessary proteins that might interfere with the signal’s transmission, this helps to strengthen the remaining synapses and support learning and memory. It also helps to remove cellular debris caused by neural activity and inflammation, which may contribute to neurodegeneration.

Net spines

Refers to the small protrusions on nerve cells (neurons) called dendritic spines. Dendrites are the branches of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons, and dendritic spines are small, finger-like projections that protrude from the dendrites. These spines are the site of synapse formation, where the connections between neurons are made. They are called "net spines" because they form a network of connections between neurons in the brain.

Dendritic spines are dynamic structures that can change shape and number in response to various signals. For example, during the process of learning and memory, dendritic spines can grow or shrink, depending on the strength of the neural connections they form.

Dendritic spines play a crucial role in the formation and maintenance of neural circuits, which are the networks of connections that allow neurons to communicate and process information. They are also involved in the development of the brain, and as I mentioned earlier in my previous answer, a process called synaptic pruning occurs, in which a large proportion of dendritic spines (70%) are eliminated during the normal course of brain maturation to ensure the relevant formation of appropriate neuronal connections.

Net spines and dendrites are not the same. Dendrites are the branches of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons, and "net spines" are small, finger-like projections that protrude from the dendrites. Dendrites are a structural component of the neuron, while "net spines" are specialized structures that form the site of synapse formation, where the connections between neurons are made. In other words, "net spines" are a sub-component of dendrites.

Dendrites are important for receiving information from other neurons, whereas "net spines" are important for the formation and maintenance of neural circuits. They are also involved in the development of the brain, a process called synaptic pruning occurs, in which a large proportion of dendritic spines (70%) are eliminated during the normal course of brain maturation to ensure the relevant formation of appropriate neuronal connections.

Gulf War Illness (GWI)

is a term that has been used to describe a set of symptoms that developed in some veterans of the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War. The symptoms of GWI are similar to those of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and include fatigue, muscle and joint pain, headaches, and difficulty with memory and concentration. Other symptoms can include sleep disturbances, irritable bowel syndrome, and a variety of neurological symptoms.

GWI is not an officially recognized diagnosis, but it is widely acknowledged that many Gulf War veterans have developed a chronic illness with symptoms similar to those of CFS.

ME/CFS

stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It is a complex and debilitating disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that is not improved by rest, and which can be made worse by physical or mental activity. The fatigue is often accompanied by a variety of other symptoms, including difficulty with memory and concentration, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, muscle and joint pain, headaches, and sleep disturbances.

The diagnosis of ME/CFS is often difficult and can take a long time, as there is no specific test for the condition and symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions.

Exactly!

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Ray

inflammation is the goal of aluminium but i wonder if it even helps at all in the desired outcome as the body is looking at the al instead of the dead virus.

im not sure about jason fungs mention of using cream or mct oil in coffee (im actually sat here drinking coffee with double cream) as the body will stop its autophagy and use its new food source first.

my research leads me to suggest 16-24h fasts regularly are best for autophagy but i have done 72h once a month in the past and my skin looked better (youthful) for it

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