Taux de Nagalase et GcMAF

[un_ptit_gars]

Message de smoothie
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Bonjour a tous ,
J ai une question concernant un test, dont je n'avais jamais entendu parler avant : celui des nagalase.
D après ce que j en ai lu il permet de détecter si l'organisme est attaquer par des virus .et de vérifier l 'état du système immunitaire Si c'est le cas le traitement consiste a administrer au patient des injections de GcMAF,
Quelqu'un à t il déjà fait ce test ou suivit le traitement ? Si oui dans quel labo ,? et pour quels résultats ?

[un_ptit_gars]

Bonjour a tous ,
J ai une question concernant un test, dont je n'avais jamais entendu parler avant : celui des nagalase.
D après ce que j en ai lu il permet de détecter si l'organisme est attaquer par des virus .et de vérifier l 'état du système immunitaire Si c'est le cas le traitement consiste a administrer au patient des injections de GcMAF,
Quelqu'un à t il déjà fait ce test ou suivit le traitement ? Si oui dans quel labo ,? et pour quels résultats ?

Salut smoothie,

Je connais assez bien ce sujet de la nagalase, des macrophages, et des injections de GCMAF.

J'ai suivi l'année dernière plusieurs histoires de lymés américains qui étaient traités avec ça (suite a une vérification du taux de nagalase élevé), et il semble que ça soit une piste de soin très intéréssante.
Bien entendu en france on en parle pas du tout (évidemment...), mais il y a bcp a faire niveau rétablissement de l'immunité via cette methode. Le problème majeur réside a mon sens sur trois aspects:

- c'est très cher
- les herx engendrés sont vraisemblablement très durs a vivre (il faut donc y etre vraiment préparé)
- on ne sait pas si les taux de nagalase ne vont pas remonter dans les mois qui suivent après que la thérapie a été officiellement terminée

Il y a donc encore des incertitudes sur cette technique la, mais elle semble malgré tout très prometteuse. A priori pour les infection du genre VIH, c'est le must absolu d'après ce que j'en ai lu.

Ceux qui mesurent un taux élevé de nagalase peuvent aussi essayer de procéder a la technique des probiotique MAF (MAF 878), même si il semble que l'importation de ce produit en france ne soit pas si facile que ça. Cela dis si je devais essayer ce traitement a l'avenir, je le ferais plutot via la forme probiotique et progressive qu'avec les injection de GCMAF qui sont qd même assez violentes on dirait.

Voila à la suite quelques infos récentes sur le sujet issu d'une conférence de chercheurs internationaux

Pti gars

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Kenny de Meirleir spoke about GcMAF in the treatment of Chronic Fatigue:

Lack of macrophages leads to immune suppression.
Gc protein is Vitamin D binding protein.
The body puts small protein Gc around it as fat cannot be dissolved in blood.
GcMAF is a natural activator of macrophages.
When the immune system cannot convert Gc Protein (when nagalase is elevated), we get deglycosylated Gc Protein and not GcMAF.
Nagalase is part of envelope of HIV and is found in cancers, viruses, and HERVs.
Intestinal bacterial also produce nagalase – 120 different ones.
Intestinal flora can increase or decrease nagalase production.
GcMAF is the most potent macrophage activator.
People with CFS have many different infections.
Healthy people have low nagalase.
CFS patients average 1.72 and some up to 4.0.
Controls range from .35 to .68.
Cheney finds an average of 3.0 (0.8 to 6.7).
Origin or nagalase – retrovirus, Herpes viruses, intestinal bacteria, HERVs, intracellular bacteria like Bartonella. Borrelia.
Increases plasma LPS (lipopolysaccharide) in sick people (leaky gut) – activating macrophages in pathological way.
VDR genetics are involved in GcMAF responsiveness – Bsm1 and Fok1.
High responder – FF bb; Moderate Ff Bb; low responder Ff/BB.
920 patient study – 50% with zoonosis of Borrelia or Bartonella.
GcMAF will not generally have a bad IL1 or TNF-a response like LPS. LPS and GcMAF cannot both stimulate macrophages at the same time. GcMAF has preferential activation.
25-100 ng per week. Lowered doses later to 25-50 ng per week. 60—70% were responders.
GcMAF risk – could develop autoimmune disorders. Has not seen it. 3 people with autoimmune thyroid have been treated and has not increased.
In people with TGF-b1 or IL-6 elevation, you have to be more careful.
IRIS (Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome) – is a cytokine storm – immune system produces an exaggerated response.
< 20% experienced IRIS with treatment and even less now due to lower dosing and excluding some patients from the treatment.
IRIS is more common when more co-infections or activated T cells or low T cells are present.
Monitor treatment with cytokines, C4a, activated T cells (CD25, HLA-DR).
Prevention of IRIS - all microbes addressed as much as possible beforehand.
Does IV GcMAF when they can or SC/SQ injections.
Patients with very damaged immune systems like leukopenia, low CD4, etc. may not be candidates for GcMAF.
If toxic levels of 1,25 Vitamin D, should not give more vitamin D.
If GcMAF works, 1,25 Vitamin D goes down and 25 Vitamin D goes up.
Viruses, bacteria, etc. and inflammation lead to Vitamin D 1,25 production.
Prostaglandin inhibitors may be used for IRIS like aspirin or 100mg indomethacin suppositories.
The process is driven by IL-8 when having an IRIS reaction.
When nagalase is normalized and GcMAF therapy stopped, does nagalase rise? Depends on whether the other infections are treated as well. Need to handle the ongoing immune support.
MAF yogurt may not be effective unless intestinal bacteria are the driver of the nagalase. It is a large protein destroyed in the gut.
Treating Borrelia will lower nagalase.
With Bartonella, he sees mostly psychiatric symptoms.
Bacteria produce more nagalase than viruses.
High IL-8 or high IL-6 are used to rule out GcMAF treatment.
TGF-b1 is related to Th17 and autoimmunity.
LPS from gram negative bacteria activate macrophages.
His specific GcMAF comes in small vials and can be frozen.
Headaches and sleep problems are their main IRIS symptoms.
He allows re-freezing. 50% loss in 2 weeks if kept in the fridge.
Keeps on once a month GcMAF after nagalase normalizes.
6 days activation of macrophages from the GcMAF treatment.
They do gut biopsies to look for microbes and see Parvovirus and others in tissues.

[un_ptit_gars]

D'autres infos:


Macrophages are a vital part of your immune system. They have the ability to identify cancer cells, rid the body of worn-out cells and play a crucial role in initiating an immune response. Meanwhile Vitamin D binding protein is important in activating these macrophages. The form of Vitamin D binding protein that directs your macrophages to attack your cancer cells is called GcMAF. However many cancer cells produce a protein called NaGaLase that destroy Vitamin D binding proteins.

At the I.A.T. we use GcMAF made from healthy human serum Vitamin D binding protein which bypasses the cancer’s ability to de-activate macrophage activation with NaGaLase.

If your immune system has inactive macrophages, then GcMAF will also restore your immune system’s ability to activate macrophages allowing them to once again identify and attack cancer cells.
Vitamin D binding protein is the primary macrophage activating factor. Your optimal health depends on a targeted and strong immune system. Macrophages are a vital part of your immune system that have the ability to identify bacteria, virus, fungi and cancer cells.

Vitamin D is primarily produced in your body from exposure to sunlight.

How our macrophages are activated depends on how the T-cells and B-cells modify our vitamin D binding proteins. The specific form of vitamin D binding protein that directs your macrophages to attack your cancer cells is called GcMAF. Many cancer cells produce a protein called NaGaLase that destroy vitamin D binding proteins. At the I.A.T. we use GcMAF made from healthy human serum vitamin D binding protein, thus bypassing the cancer’s ability to de-activate macrophage activation with NaGaLase. If your immune system has inactive macrophages, then GcMAF will restore your immune system’s ability to activate macrophages towards your cancer.

Here’s a more detailed explanation I recently put together.

Abstract:

The recent proliferation of published studies outlining the role of vitamin D in the prevention of many diseases associated with a weakened immune system has brought to light the importance of monitoring the serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D. (1) Specifically, the direct correlation of vitamin D levels in the human serum with increased levels of cathelicidin and the potentiating role cathelicidin plays in the immune response to infections, cancer, autoimmune disease, and especially acute viral infections. (2) While research into vitamin D needs to continue, the importance of vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) has been demonstrated to have synergistic yet independent functions in the human immune system.(3) This article will outline the emerging role of VDBP in the field of immunology.

Method:

A review of the scientific literature pertaining to vitamin D binding protein and its derivatives identified in human serum and produced in the laboratory.

Results:

Vitamin D binding protein, also known as Gc-protein, is a group of isoform proteins with O-linked glycans. The dominant isoform of VDBP are non-glycosylated 656 Da proteins produced mainly in the liver.(4) Vitamin D binding protein participates in liver cell stability and regeneration through Calcium dependent interaction with the megalin/gp330 receptor.(5) There are 4 important roles VDBP has in humans. It binds circulating vitamin D for transport and storage, it is the most important scavenger of extracellular G-actin, it enhances the chemotactic activity of C5a for neutrophils in inflammation, and it activates macrophages thru GaINAc-modified Gc-protein. (6) Additionally, low levels of VDBP have been found to correlate with multiple organ failure sepsis, and non-survival in fulminant liver failure and traumatic liver failure.(7) The non-glycosylated isoform of VDBP is able to mask the presence of endotoxins by 20%.(7) Therapy with VDBP may increase survival in trauma, sepsis and fulminant liver failure.(7)

The function of VDBP is independent of the hormone actions of 1,25(2OH) vitamin D and it has limited impact on the extracellular pool of 1,25(OH) vitamin D.(8) Vitamin D binding protein has virtually no impact on the distribution, uptake, activation profile, or biological potency of the hormone vitamin D.(8) Vitamin D binding protein is not affected by race or adiposity the way vitamin D levels are affected.(9) The serum levels of VDBP are decreased by trauma, septic infections, and chronic or acute liver diseases.(10) The normal levels of serum VDBP are 350-50 mg/L and low levels below 80 mg/L yield a positive and negative mortality predictive value 85% and 43% respectively.(11)

While vitamin D binding protein is a primary macrophage activating factor, several glycosylated isoforms have more potent and specific macrophage activating properties.(12) The most potent serum macrophage activation factor (MAF) is produced by a series of glycosylation reactions performed by the B-cells and T-cells.(13) Vitamin D-MAF as a potent adjuvant activity for immunization and healthy serum levels of MAF prevent tumours from being able to transplant into mice.(14) Other roles for VDBP derived MAF have been described, including an anti-angiogenesis function through blocking VEGF-induced angiogenesis.(15)

Laboratory derived MAF from serum VDBP has the advantage of activating macrophages and not being deglycosylated by N-acetylgalactosaminidase enzymes (NaGaLase) produced by cancer cells and infectious bacteria, viruses and fungi.(16) The clinical dose required to have a sustained systemic activation of macrophages in 100 mcg injected weekly.(16) A novel MAF (Gc-MAF) can be produced in the lab with cancer specific activity that targets undifferentiated cancer cells better than well differentiated cancer cells.(17) Several prospective clinical trials of treatment of cancer and HIV with Gc-MAF have been reported and three trials with metastatic colon, breast and prostate cancer have provided 100% remission rate beyond the five years since Gc-MAF treatment.(16)(17)(18)

Discussion:

The scientific and clinical experience with VDBP and Gc-MAF are very encouraging. Several clinical trials are underway in the Bahamas at the Immune Augmentation Therapy Centre to reproduce and confirm the current clinic studies, as well as to answer several clinical questions that have not yet been reported in the scientific literature about VDBP and Gc-MAF. If you would like to enrol any clients with cancer or immune suppression in a trial with Gc-MAF, please contact the author of this review. www.immunemedicine.com

[un_ptit_gars]

Message de vinz37
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Bonjour,

En traversant le forum, je vois cette discussion sur le nagalase. Le même doc de Paris me l'a prescrite, test que j'ai effectué en début d'année (en même temps que CD56: 572/mm3 et CD57: 312/mm3) avec un résultat arrivé le 5/04/2013, réalisé par un labo belge (me demander en MP si vous souhaitez) :

- 1,06 ; normes entre 0,32 et 0,95 nmol/min/mg

J'en ai conclu que Lyme n'était à priori pas ou peu présente (avec pourtant des symptômes évocateurs : corps flottants, articulations parfois rouillés,...) et que mes divers soucis étaient plutôt accès sur les ML (suite à une IV de dmps : 14,57 mercure; 15,49 plomb; nickel 6,46; bismuth 0,18; arsenic 58,38; cuivre 671,40).

[un_ptit_gars]

Message de nakyla
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Salut vinz,

Je vois qu'on a à peu près les mêmes résultats, CD56 assez élevés et CD57 dans la norme, et les symptômes que tu décris font aussi partie de ma panoplie.
Qu'en a déduis ton doc ?

Est-ce que tu as déjà fait analyser des taux de vitamine D (1.25D et 25OHD) et l'enzyme de conversion de l'angiotensine ? qui peuvent être le signe d'une maladie inflammatoire à macrocytes ou autre, liée à des bactérie CWD (Cell Wall Deficient).

[un_ptit_gars]

Message de vinz37
--------------------------------

Salut Nakyla,

Je revois le doc le 26/06 j'en serais plus à ce moment là pour la nagalase, sinon j'avais fais analyser la vitamine D, la 25OHD je crois et j'étais à 26, norme à 30 inscrite sur la feuille mais le médecin a dis qu'il valait mieux être à 60 il m'avait prescrit de la vitamine D cholécalciférol en gouttes à prendre à raison de 30 gouttes par semaine (j'en prends 15 gouttes par jour mélangées à de l'huile finalement). Pour ce qui est des bactérie CWD (Cell Wall Deficient) ou du test de l'enzyme de conversion de l'angiotensine, j'avoue ne pas encore avoir creuser par là, mais je le ferais du coup merci

[un_ptit_gars]

Message de nakyla
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Je revois le doc le 26/06 j'en serais plus à ce moment là pour la nagalase, sinon j'avais fais analyser la vitamine D, la 25OHD je crois et j'étais à 26, norme à 30 inscrite sur la feuille mais le médecin a dis qu'il valait mieux être à 60 il m'avait prescrit de la vitamine D cholécalciférol en gouttes à prendre à raison de 30 gouttes par semaine (j'en prends 15 gouttes par jour mélangées à de l'huile finalement). Pour ce qui est des bactérie CWD (Cell Wall Deficient) ou du test de l'enzyme de conversion de l'angiotensine, j'avoue ne pas encore avoir creuser par là, mais je le ferais du coup merci

Vinz,

Même si tu as la 25OHD faible, il se peut que tu aies néanmoins la 1.25D (vitamine D active) haute, et dans ce cas il ne faudrait pas prendre de supplément en vitamine D.
La 1.25D peut être produite, en dehors de la voie normale, par des macrocytes et/ou des bactéries CWD, ce qui affaiblit le système immunitaire.
Il vaux mieux contrôler la 1.25D avant de se supplémenter, car on peut dans ce cas faciliter la tache aux bactéries en prenant de la vitamine D, alors que la 1.25D est déjà élevée.

Si tu fais la 1.25D, il faut refaire en même temps la 25OHD, pour avoir les 2 valeurs à un instant t.
En même temps, il est aussi utile de faire contrôler la PTH, calcium et potassium ionisés, l'ECA, et la calciurie des 24h.

J'ai moi-même la 25OHD faible (15 en ce moment) et la 1.25D élevée (au-dessus de la norme), et aussi l'ECA et les CD56 élevés.
Si par hasard c'était aussi ton cas, on aurait le même tableau

[un_ptit_gars]

Message de tuchiana
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voici mon experience avec les vitamines D (25 et 1,25):

- analyse du 4 aout 2011:
Vitamine D3 (25-OH): 7.27 ng/ml (normes 11.1 - 42.9)
Vitamine D 1,25 (OH)2: 58 ng/l (normes 30 - 70)
PTH: 103 pg/ml (normes 15 - 65)

Pendant 2 mois: vitamine D cholecalciferol 20 gouttes 2 fois par semaine

- analyse du 29 septembre 2011:
Vitamine D3 (25-OH): 24.4 ng/ml (normes 11.1 - 42.9)
Vitamine D 1,25 (OH)2: 52 ng/l (normes 30 - 70)
PTH: 62 pg/ml (normes 15 - 65)

C'est vrai que ma vitamine D 1,25 n'etait pas au dessus de la norme lors de la premiere analyse mais apres la supplementation en cholecalciferol elle a baisse ainsi que la PTH qui est rentree dans la norme.

[un_ptit_gars]

Message de nakyla
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voici mon experience avec les vitamines D (25 et 1,25):

- analyse du 4 aout 2011:
Vitamine D3 (25-OH): 7.27 ng/ml (normes 11.1 - 42.9)
Vitamine D 1,25 (OH)2: 58 ng/ml (normes 30 - 79)
PTH: 103 pg/ml (normes 15 - 65)

Pendant 2 mois: vitamine D cholecalciferol 20 gouttes 2 fois par semaine

- analyse du 29 septembre 2011:
Vitamine D3 (25-OH): 24.4 ng/ml (normes 11.1 - 42.9)
Vitamine D 1,25 (OH)2: 52 ng/ml (normes 30 - 79)
PTH: 62 pg/ml (normes 15 - 65)

C'est vrai que ma vitamine D 1,25 n'etait pas au dessus de la norme lors de la premiere analyse mais apres la supplementation en cholecalciferol elle a baisse ainsi que la PTH qui est rentree dans la norme.

Salut tuchiana,

T'es sure que t'as pas fait une inversion dans les normes ?
Normalement c'est:
- 30-80 microgrammes/litre pour la 25OHD
- 15-42 nanogrammes/litre pour la 1.25D
Dans ce cas, ta 1.25D serait au-dessus de la norme les 2 fois, et la 25OHD en dessous les 2 fois.

[un_ptit_gars]

Message de jibouille
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moi sur mon analyses de chez cerba j'ai pour la 1.25 la norme 18-71 ng/l pour un patient adulte

(et 30 à 100 pour la 25 OHD)

[un_ptit_gars]

Message de nakyla
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moi sur mon analyses de chez cerba j'ai pour la 1.25 la norme 18-71 ng/l pour un patient adulte

(et 30 à 100 pour la 25 OHD)

- 30-100 pour la 25OHD n'est pas délirant, ce n'est pas loin des 30-80 habituels,
- par contre 18-71 pour la 1.25D, le 71 parait un peu haut tout de même.

Peut-être que ça dépend des labos, bien que ce ne soit pas logique qu'il y ait de telles différences surtout avec les normes de tuchiana.

[un_ptit_gars]

Message de tuchiana
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merci Nakila, je viens de corriger mon post, il y avait des erreurs dans l'unite et les normes de la vitamine D 1.25, la D 25OH2 est en ng/ml, il ne faut pas tenir compte des normes, mes analyses ont ete faites a l'etranger, je voulais juste montrer la tendance de la D 1,25 et de la PTH quand j'ai pris du cholecalciferol pendant 2 mois.

[un_ptit_gars]

Message de nakyla
---------------------------------

Peut-être que les écarts viennent des différentes techniques d'analyse des labos, et aussi à mon avis de l'enrichissement massif de vitamine D dans l'alimentation industrielle qui doit faire évoluer la norme à la hausse.

[un_ptit_gars]

Pour ceux qui sont intéréssés par le traitement GcMAF et qui projetent de démarrer les injections, sachez qu'il y a désormais aussi l'option + progressive des probiotiques

http://www.gcmaf.eu/info/index.php?opti ... Itemid=117

Bon ça reste qd même super cher, puisque c'est 2000 euros pour l'année... soit dans les 170 euros par mois.
Mais si c'est vraiment efficace, au final ça n'est pas plus cher que les IV de DMPS out tout autre programme coûteux que l'on peut entreprendre par soi-même... En tout cas il me semble bien que les probiotiques MAF sont au final moins cher que les injections malgré tout, mais c'est a confirmer par ceux qui en ont deja fait!

Pti gars

[un_ptit_gars]

Dernières infos de betterhealthguy sur le GcMAF et le taux de nagalase:

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GcMAF (Gc protein macrophage activation factor) is an immune-regulating compound from Europe that may have benefit for those of us struggling with immune system health. It has been used in HIV and cancer for several years. More recently, doctors and researchers have been considering GcMAF for use in patients with illnesses that most of us will recognize.

From gcmaf.eu, "In its role of immune system regulator, research shows GcMAF can reverse other diseases that attack the immune system like Autism, CFS, XMRV, Lyme disease, Aids, HIV, Fibromyalgia (all of which we've begun to have success with ourselves), osteoporosis, Hodgkin’s, Lupus, MS, Parkinson’s, various bacterial and viral infections and various types of Immune dysfunction."

I first heard about GcMAF almost a year ago. At the same time, I had first learned about "nagalase", a blood test that is used to in part determine whether or not one might be a candidate for GcMAF therapy. Nagalase is an enzyme that prevents Vitamin D receptors (VDR) from being activated on the surface of the macrophage. As a result, macrophages are not "activated" and our immune systems are not able to properly respond to invaders.

Here are some points that I have learned thus far on GcMAF:

GcMAF has reportedly been tested more for safety, purity, etc. than other human blood products.
Macrophages are cultured, destroyed, and the GcMAF receptors are purified.
Treatment is via injection 1x/week for 8-20 weeks. Dose is titrated initially to avoid exacerbation or Herx responses as much as possible.
A commonly used dose is .25ml once weekly (a 2.2 ml vial should last 8 injections).
The primary test used in looking at whether or not GcMAF may be a reasonable intervention is nagalase.
Nagalase inactivates macrophages.
I personally would NEVER consider this option without having a baseline nagalase test. Normal is < 0.95. Mine was 2.9.
The practitioner I worked with suggested that 2.9 was in the range of someone with HIV or cancer in terms of the impact on the immune system. I'd like to hear from others in the Lyme community as you get test results as well to see if there is a pattern of elevated nagalase in those with Lyme disease. Whether or not Lyme itself has anything to do with nagalase elevation is something I have not been able to find anything on. We certainly all have underlying viral co-factors that are likely in play as well, but I suspect that Borrelia may also play a role in nagalase elevation.
In healthy college students, a nagalase 0.4 is not uncommon (the lower the better).
At 2.9, my practitioner was surprised that I did not have more cognitive deficits such as memory loss and other cognitive issues.
It has been suggested that ongoing antimicrobial therapy without a working immune system is like leaving the house with the door wide open inviting burglars in. By using GcMAF to activate macrophages, nagalase drops, and one may regain a functional immune system. The door is then closed to further invaders and we may no longer serve as a microbe hotel.
Maintenance therapy should not be needed once the immune system is once again properly functioning.
Activated macrophages only remain active for 7 days so any negative responses are generally short-lived. That said, some people do have strong inflammatory responses that are not believed to be typical die-off reactions.
It has been indicated that in some cases, other medications may be needed in order to manage the inflammatory response. This is another reason that one needs to be working closely with a knowledgeable practitioner before considering GcMAF in my opinion. In the CFS and GcMAF world, this more severe form of a die-off reaction is called IRIS.
VDR genetics do not seem to play a role in predicting response as earlier thought according to one practitioner that I have spoken with. That said, Vitamin D levels do correlate with the positive response rate of GcMAF. Thus, Vitamin D supplementation may be required in order to optimize outcome.
Other than die-off reactions or activation of symptoms (inflammation), no other side effects are generally expected.
Nagalase should be monitored every 1-2 months while on treatment to determine the required duration of the therapy. Target nagalase after treatment would be 0.4 to 0.6.
Elevated nagalase has a profound detrimental effect on the immune system. Elevated nagalase is often presumed to be related to microbes of viral origin or cancer. Viruses that are nagalase producers open the door to chronic infections.
Hemagglutinin contains nagalase and is also found in flagella of some bacteria so it could also be the case that some bacteria may produce nagalase.
Parents with ASD children also often have elevated nagalase.
A practitioner I spoke with likened Lyme disease to a "peat moss fire" burning below the surface. Activating macrophages should help to deal with the fire.
GcMAF should be helpful in dealing with other infections that are not of viral origin; for example, Borrelia, Bartonella, and other infections commonly associated with Tick-Borne Infections (TBIs). GcMAF is active against many cancers and many different kinds of microbes.
Neopterin is another test that is sometimes used as an indicator of immune suppression. As macrophages become activated, neopterin may rise and later fall. If one is in the normal range for neopterin and has an immune-related illness, this could be an indication that the immune system is suppressed and not responding appropriately.
People with autoimmune conditions can generally use GcMAF. However, GcMAF may be contraindicated in people with Multiple Sclerosis.
Reduction in nagalase is generally seen early in the course of treatment; within the first 3-6 weeks. In some studies, nagalase dropped by over 50% in less than six weeks.
Cancer patients may initially feel as bad on GcMAF as they do on chemotherapy, but often feel much better after the first month.
Anti-inflammatories may limited the effect of GcMAF.
Enzymes and biofilm-reducing supplements may have a negative impact on GcMAF therapy and may be best avoided. It is still too early to know what the impact may be, but one practitioner I spoke with feels that it is best to avoid these.
One should not be on any immune-suppressing agents while on GcMAF as the immune system must be partially functional in order to respond appropriately to the treatment.
A common pattern is to see elevated lymphocytes, high nagalase, and low NK cells. Once nagalase drops, it may be the case that NK cell function could be positively impacted. CD57 is a type of NK cell. It is too early to know if this proves to be true, but it is one of the things I'm quite interested in.

In November 2011, I listened to a presentation by Dr. Kenny de Meirleir on GcMAF. This video is an absolute must-watch if you are considering GcMAF. You can find it here. A few of my takeaways from watching this presentation include:

With compromised immune activation, increased nagalase cuts off the conversion to GcMAF - result is a deglycosylated Gc protein that cannot activate macrophages.
If you have increased nagalase, you have less GcMAF and your Gc protein is not effectively transferred into GcMAF.
Nagalase is part of the gp120 enzyme in HIV. HERV's or other viruses active in cells may produce nagalase.
Several intestinal bacteria are producers of nagalase. Editor's Note: I found this connection to be quite interesting; the gut is big.
Similar to HIV, CFS patients have many infections and reactivate endogenous herpes viruses - EBV, CMV, HHV-6, HSV-1, as well as Herpes 7.
Healthy controls have very low nagalase enzyme activity. Normal people do have some, but it should be very low. There is a clear difference in those with pathology.
395 CFS/ME patients - average nagalase in Kenny de Meirleir study was 1.72 with range of 0.28 to 4.0. Controls had < 0.69 with range of 0.35 to 0.68. Only 12/395 had normal nagalase levels resulting in 97% having increased nagalase activity.
Dr. Cheney did a small study of 50 patients. Average nagalase was 3.0 with range of 0.8 to 6.7. He has a much sicker patient population than de Meirleir.
Origin of nagalase in CFS may be: retrovirus?, herpes viruses, intestinal bacteria, HERVs.
Find Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in the blood from gram negative intestinal bacteria (less so from gram positive bacteria). High LPS suggests increased intestinal permeability or leaky gut syndrome.LPS is one of the most immunogenic substances in the body. Extremely ill and moderately ill patients have increased circulating LPS and thus leaky gut syndrome.
Altered intestinal flora and changes in gut permeability may be a major factor in this entire clinical picture.
GVDR-Fok1 and GVDR-Bsm1 polymorphisms in CFS - response to GcMAF is dependent on the VDR gene polymorphism. VDR is involved in skeletal metabolism, modulation of immune response, and regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. Many CFS patients have osteoporosis. Editor's Note: The VDR connection to GcMAF efficacy seems to be an ongoing topic of debate.
In 185 patients looking at VDR genetics, FF/bb is a higher responder. Ff/Bb is a moderate responder, and Ff/BB is a low responder. de Meirleir takes VDR genetics into account when giving and dosing GcMAF.
Africans are higher responders and Norwegians and Scandanavians are lower responders.
GcMAF and LPS activate macrophages. Majority of CFS patients have increased bacterial transfection from gut to blood. GcMAF stimulates macrophages through a different mechanism than LPS without the negative effects of LPS. LPS and GcMAF cannot stimulate macrophages simultaneously - it is one or the other. Affinity of macrophages for GcMAF is higher than for LPS. GcMAF will induce a "good" phagocytosis without the bad IL-1 and TNF-alpha release. "Bad" macrophage activation by LPS is diminished by the competitive action of GcMAF in the macrophages.
de Meirleir uses 100 nanogram (1/10,000 of an mg) in 1ml serum. Editor's Note: This is different than GcMAF.eu potency which is 100ng in .25ml
Can be done IV or SC once per week at dose of 25-100ng per week. The Dose depends on how activated the immune system is and the VDR genetics. If a patient is a low responder genetically and has low activation of complement in the immune system, the dose might be 100ng per week. Otherwise, much lower dosages may be used. Treatment duration is 5-40 weeks with 15 week being the average.
Symptoms such as fatigue, sleep quality, pain, neurocognitive function, recovery/less payback, digestive problems, and orthostatic intolerance improved in over 50%. Of 108 patients, 68 of these had noticeable improvement. Of these, 44 of the 68 had decrease in fatigue.
Risks - GcMAF is natural and normal people produce it. T-cell activation in patients with a Th1 -> Th2/Th17 shift could in theory develop or increase auto-immunity. That said, it has not happened once in his cases. He did have a few people that developed autoimmune thyroid conditions; but that is not uncommon in the normal patient group that he sees.
Patients with increased TGF-b1, high IL-6, high ANA, and thyroid antibodies are temporarily excluded.
Overstimulation with GcMAF can lead to IRIS - immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. IRIS has been seen in the past in HIV. In HIV, this is rarely discussed given the severity of the condition they are treating. IRIS occurs when the immune system is heavily damaged by viruses other co-infections are present. The immune cells start to regenerate and the immune system produces an exaggerated response to the co-infections. It is not the GcMAF itself but the result of significant co-infections. IRIS has been replicated in mice.
20-30% of GcMAF CFS patients experience IRIS. It is more common in those with co-infections and in those with activated T-cells or a low number of T cells.
de Meirleir monitors IRIS with C4a, cytokines, CD25, and HLADR+.
Attempts to prevent IRIS with a broad screen for fungal, viral, intracellular bacteria, and parasites.
Start with a low dose and titrate up slowly. In 7 patients that had IRIS, de Meirleir found active Babesia.


Current Status

To learn about my personal experience and response to GcMAF, visit my GcMAF Log page.

Nagalase Testing

Health Diagnostics and Research Institute
5406 Bordertown Ave
Suite 2300
South Amboy, NJ 08879
732-721-1234
Lab@VitDiag.com

Web site: http://www.europeanlaboratory.nl/

The cost of testing is about $65.

Resources

There are numerous resources on GcMAF available. Rather than try to go into great detail here, as I am still learning about GcMAF myself, I have provided some additional resources below that have significant information on GcMAF.

Information: GcMAF and Nagalase
Information and Source of GcMAF
Information on Nagalase
Information on Macrophages
German Information Site (in English)
Video: Dr. Kenny de Meirleir in GcMAF (a must watch!)
Video: Videos on GcMAF
Video: Dr. Kevin Bethel on GcMAF - Introduction, Part 1, Part 2
Video: CFS Patient Experiences with GcMAF - Dr. Enlander
Video: David Noakes on GcMAF
Video: David Noakes on GcMAF and Cancer
Video: David Noakes on GcMAF and Prostate Cancer
Video: MAF 878 with Dr. Enlander
Video: Dr. Bradstreet on GcMAF and Autism at 2012 Conference
Blog: Dr. Jeff Bradstreet
Blog: Dr. Jeff Bradstreet: Observations of GcMAF in Autism
Blog: An Update on Viral Issue in Autism
Blog: No Poster Girl on GcMAF
Blog: Age of Autism: Dr. Bradstreet, Nagalase, and the Viral Issue in Autism
Forum: Phoenix Rising
blog Wormwood
Cheney GcMAF Studies (requires account)
Discussion on GcMAF and VDR SNPs
Interpretation of VDR Results and impact on GcMAF therapy
LymeNet.org: Discussion on GcMAF
ImmuneMedicine.com Discussion on GcMAF
Sunrise Complementary Medical Center
St. Benedict's Health Center PDF on GcMAF

If you have experience with GcMAF, I'd appreciate hearing from you. If you have additions or corrections to the information here or additional information that I should share here, please Contact Me.

Note: I am not an expert on GcMAF therapy. This information is being provided to share my personal experience with this option only. All medical decisions should be discussed with your doctor.
- See more at: http://www.betterhealthguy.com/gcmaf#st ... 2y8ij.dpuf

Source: http://www.betterhealthguy.com/gcmaf