Autism, Inflammation and Stem Cell Enhancers

Proving the Therapeutic Value

We have been running Quantibody® Antibody Arrays on blood serum of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). All reside in areas of heavy industry in Central Europe. All have elevated levels of one or several heavy metals.

These assays are being run as part of our strategy of treating these children with natural stem cell enhancing supplements. Here are the average serum levels of 2 cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-alpha) and 1 related chemokine (CCL3). All of the children had elevated levels vs healthy controls:

Figure: Serum ASD levels vs Healthy Controls (pg/ml)

TNF-alpha and IL-6 promotes the immune/inflammatory response. These two cytokines are guided to sites (including the CNS) of infection or tissue damage by the chemokine CCL-3 and others. In the normal process, the site(s) of immune response are cleaned (the response) of infection and/or damaged tissue and then repaired. The key with autoimmune diseases and disorders, is that that this process becomes a continuous loop; hence, these cytokines and chemokines are elevated. If the loop is broken or down modulated, the the levels of these should decrease.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are immunomodulating and anti-inflammatory. We plan on testing candidate substances (all our currently available as natural supplements) on kinetic assays using our umbilical cord blood human mesenchymal stem cells. These will enable us to quantify  cell growth and expansion. We also plan on testing the best candidates on our human neurons to see the effects on cell behavior.

We will then determine safe dosing working with experts in the U.S. and Europe. During treatment, we will again be testing serum to see if the levels of these and other key Cytokines, Chemokines and Growth Factors. This will give proof as to to whether or not the treatments are working. If so, we should see the serum levels of these move toward to those of healthy controls.

I plan on making more data as it becomes available.

Antibody Array-ELISA Kits for Cancer Researchers

We continue to build our catalog of Antibody Arrays & ELISA Kits
for Cancer Researchers. Our RayBio® C-Series Ctyokine Arrays
enable you to analyze the expression of up to 120 Cytokines for about
the price of a single ELISA (585 USD).

 
Figure 3. PTEN Downregulation in HER2-Overexpressing Cells Activates an IL6/NF-kB-Mediated Inflammatory Feedback Loop (A–E) MCF7-HER2+PTEN cells secreted 3- to 5-fold higher levels of IL6, IL8, and CCL5 compared to MCF7-HER2+ or MCF7-PTEN cells as determined by RayBio human cytokine antibody Array 5 (A). The intensity of each blot compared to control was determined by Kodak image analyzer (B) and confirmed by ELISA (C). Downregulation of PTEN in HER2-amplified breast cancer cells, BT474, SKBR3, HCC1954, and Sum159-HER2+ (D) results in increased levels of these cytokines in vitro (E). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2012.06.014

Array Capabilities:

• Detects expression of 96 secreted proteins in a single sample, in a single day. 
• If you can do a Western, you can use a C-Series Antibody Array. And get excellent results the first time!  
• Sandwich ELISA pairs give C-Series arrays high sensitivity and specificity.  
• C-Series arrays are compatible with practically ANY liquid sample. 

References have cited using membrane-based C-Series Cytokine Antibody Arrays with nearly every liquid sample type imaginable, including: cell-cultured and co cell cultured media, cell and tissue lysates, tissue/organ perfusates, serum, plasma, urine, and many other body fluids, including cyst, interstitial, synovial, blister, cerebrospinal, prostatic and amniotic fluids, as well as abscesses, broncho-alveolar lavage, sputum, saliva, tears, breath condensates, and even human milk and colostrum. Publications referencing use of our Antibody Arrays.

I will be posting more new developments here.