Aging and Silent Inflammation
What happens as we get older?
As time passes, 4 interconnected phenomena appear which, together with incorrect lifestyles, unbalanced diet and unhealthy habits, contribute to an increase in the inflammatory state of the organism:
– reduction of the activity of the Pineal Gland with the progressive loss of circadian biological rhythms;
– increase in the production of free radicals with consequent oxidative stress;
– alteration of the immune response;
– increase in the processes of organ fibrosis.
A Major Cause of Aging: Silent Inflammation
The primary cause of silent cellular inflammation is increased oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the result of increased production of free radicals that can cause serious damage to cells and DNA. However, the body contains enzymes and antioxidants that can prevent or neutralize the formation of free radicals. Oxidative stress occurs when the level of free radicals exceeds the antioxidants’ ability to counteract them.
Two different types of inflammation
Inflammation is a weapon used by the body to fight against trauma and infection. Acute inflammation is easily recognizable because it is associated with swelling, pain, redness and heat. Silent inflammation is not associated with symptoms and signs and to detect its presence it is necessary to analyze the levels of molecules involved in inflammatory processes, such as Cytokines and C-Reactive Protein (CRP).
The activity of Cytokines
Cytokines are mediators that allow cells of the Immune System to communicate with each other but also with cells of different organs and tissues.
When the body is faced with a threat from pathogenic microorganisms, Cytokines are responsible for signaling specific cells of the Immune System where it is necessary to concentrate their efforts.
The classification of Cytokines
Cytokines are identified in three classes based on their effects on the inflammatory response:
– Anti-inflammatory cytokines: TGF-β, IL-10, IL-37 IL-35 and IL-27.
– Cytokines with both anti and pro-inflammatory effects: IL-2 and IL-12.
– Pro-inflammatory cytokines: IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, IL-17, IL-4 and IL-13, IL-18.
When Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Are Harmful
Pro-inflammatory cytokines are synthesized by cells of the immune system to regulate the inflammatory response. When they are produced for a limited period of time, they exert a positive effect. When their production is constantly high, as in silent inflammation, they can promote the development of chronic diseases.
The activity of cytokines can be schematically traced back to the subsistence ratio between IL-2 and IL-17
– IL-2 represents the cytokine symbol of bio-regeneration.
– IL-17 is the symbol of the alteration of the immune response that could favor tumors and auto-immune diseases.
A reduced production of IL-2 leads to an excessive production of IL-17.
The new laboratory diagnostics and anti-inflammatory phytotherapy
In silent inflammation, it is possible to intervene on pro-inflammatory cytokines with natural substances. Phytotherapy can stimulate anti-inflammatory cytokines and inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines. Among the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-17A is the most inflammatory, has pro-tumor proliferative and cardiovascular toxic effects and is the cause of the main autoimmune diseases.
Today we are able to measure the levels of IL-17A with a blood test.
CYTOKINE REGULATION OF TH17 AND TREG CELLS
The lymphocyte/monocyte ratio
Until a few years ago, the evaluation of a person’s immune status required complex laboratory tests that were not sustainable in terms of social cost, having to include at least the determination of the different lymphocyte and monocyte subpopulations and the blood levels of the main inflammatory and anti-inflammatory, immuno-activating and immunosuppressive cytokines.
It has recently been demonstrated that the simple ratio between the absolute number of lymphocytes and monocytes in the blood count represents in itself a summary of the immune status.
In fact, this biological marker, representative of the general inflammatory state of the person, with prognostic significance, is given by the Lymphocyte/Monocyte ratio (LMR).
Normally, the Lymphocyte/Monocyte ratio (LMR (lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio) must be greater than 2 and with a minimum number of Lymphocytes of 1,500/mm3.
It has been known for years that the finding of a reduced production of lymphocytes, regardless of the different lymphocyte subtypes, constituted one of the main negative prognostic indices in cancer patients. Compared to the lymphocyte count alone, the LMR value has a superior prognostic predictivity, in addition to having a greater physiopathological significance, since anti-cancer immunity is in its synthesis the final result of the interaction between two opposite dynamics, that of immuno-activation and that of immuno-suppression, mediated fundamentally by the lymphocyte system and the monocytic-macrophage system, respectively.
The finding of a decrease in LMR values would have a negative prognostic significance also in ischemic cardiac disease. For a complete PNEI diagnosis and to understand the state of well-being of an individual, a new laboratory diagnosis is necessary. A complete diagnosis should evaluate the light/dark rhythm of MLT (Melatonin), the blood value of Angiotensin 1-7, the Lymphocyte/Monocyte ratio (LMR: lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio) and the blood levels of IL-17.
THE TWO ROUTES OF ACTION TO KEEP INFLAMMATION LOW
To regulate inflammation, you can act by administering:
– the molecules of the human body, Melatonin, PEA and Angiotensin 1-7, capable of inhibiting the secretion of IL-17;
– natural plants capable of inhibiting or modulating the inflammatory action of IL-17.
The role of phytosynergics in cytokine key
The PHYTOSYNERGICS of the NiKi Natural Alchemy line, formulated by Dr. Nicoletta Merli, are totally natural products to support the human body. These preparations have been designed on formulations based on the combination of plants and mycotherapeutics that work synergistically towards a specific therapeutic target. Therefore, the combination of several plants with similar properties allows to reach specific beneficial objectives, for example reducing blood sugar levels, reducing cholesterol, preventing degenerative or neoplastic diseases but, above all, counteracting low-grade chronic inflammation, also called silent inflammation, which is one of the main causes of fragility and the onset of pathologies.
The therapeutic action of the various natural agents has been studied in relation to their possible modulating action directly on the cytokine system to which interleukins belong, which are small protein molecules that act on the cells of the Immune System, to induce them to communicate with each other so as to activate an immune response. In our body there are pro-inflammatory interleukins, such as IL-17, anti-inflammatory interleukins, such as interleukin IL-37, and immune-stimulating interleukins such as IL-2. The balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory interleukins creates a state of health.
The scientific principle with which the NiKi Natural Alchemy line was formulated is precisely that of identifying in nature all those plants with anti-inflammatory properties capable of modulating pro-inflammatory interleukins so as to provide help to the body and restore balance by “naturally” bringing the person back to a state of health.
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