Article explains Ebola's cytokine storm in fatal cases

[Emily]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/08/26/342451672/how-ebola-kills-you-its-not-the-virus

by Michaeleen Doucleff
August 26, 2014 4:07 PM ET
...
"The normal job of the immune system is to eliminate infections," says virologist , at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. "But when it's activated at extreme levels or it's out of control, it becomes damaging to the host."

The most extreme immune attack is the "cytokine storm." Although many viruses, like bird flu and SARS, can trigger this shock and awe assault, Ebola is probably the best at it. And at the end of an Ebola infection, it's the that kills you, Basler says.
...
"The cytokine storm makes the blood vessel walls more permeable," Basler says. So the arteries, veins and capillaries start to leak blood and plasma.

The storm also triggers a big release of , which thins out the blood and damages vessels further.

All these factors combine together to reduce blood pressure to dangerous levels, Geisbert says. "So you don't die of blood loss, but from something similar to severe septic shock."...

 

[Lizw]

Re: Article explains Ebola's cytokine storm in fatal cases

The obvious next question, of course, is how to damp down the cytokine storm without shutting down the immune system altogether. I've been looking for information on this ever since first seeing the mention of it in various sites about the mechanism of infection for Ebola. And of course, it's pertinent for flu as well. I haven't found anything yet. The only thing I've seen is the possibility that large amounts of anti-inflammatory agents can help, which is possibly where some of the talk about Vitamin C is coming from.

 

[Gemineye]

Re: Article explains Ebola's cytokine storm in fatal cases

Interesting article. Cytokine storm was also implicated in the great flu epidemic of 1918-1919.

 

[Emily]

Re: Article explains Ebola's cytokine storm in fatal cases

The obvious next question, of course, is how to damp down the cytokine storm without shutting down the immune system altogether. I've been looking for information on this ever since first seeing the mention of it in various sites about the mechanism of infection for Ebola. And of course, it's pertinent for flu as well. I haven't found anything yet. The only thing I've seen is the possibility that large amounts of anti-inflammatory agents can help, which is possibly where some of the talk about Vitamin C is coming from.

That is what I have wondered about, too, Lizw. Maybe an antiviral agent used in conjunction with an immune modulating agent?

 

[Emily]

Re: Article explains Ebola's cytokine storm in fatal cases

Interesting article. Cytokine storm was also implicated in the great flu epidemic of 1918-1919.

H5N1 too?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22068147

Antiviral Res. 2012 Jan;93(1):2-15. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2011.10.019. Epub 2011 Nov 2.
Do viral infections mimic bacterial sepsis? The role of microvascular permeability: A review of mechanisms and methods.
Steinberg BE1, Goldenberg NM, Lee WL.

Abstract

A dysregulated immune response and functional immunosuppression have been considered the major mechanisms of the bacterial sepsis syndrome. More recently, the loss of endothelial barrier function and resultant microvascular leak have been found to be a key determinant of the pathogenesis of bacterial sepsis. Whether a similar paradigm applies to systemic viral syndromes is not known. Answering this question has far-reaching implications for the development of future anti-viral therapeutic strategies. In this review, we provide an overview of the structure and function of the endothelium and how its barrier integrity is compromised in bacterial sepsis. The various in vitro and in vivo methodologies available to investigate vascular leak are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the advantages and limitations of cell culture techniques, which represent the most commonly used methods. Within this context, we appraise recent studies of three viruses - hantavirus, human herpes virus 8 and dengue virus - that suggest microvascular leak may play a role in the pathogenesis of these viral infections. We conclude with a discussion of how endothelial barrier breakdown may occur in other viral infections such as H5N1 avian influenza virus.

Copyright ? 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Full text PDF

 

[Vibrant62]

Re: Article explains Ebola's cytokine storm in fatal cases

Lots of data on zinc modulation in septic shock, and selenium too. Will gather papers and reference lists.

In haste for now, but if you wish, take a look at Google Scholar and search for links between zinc status and - sepsis, septic shock, Kappa B activation, interferon potentiation. There is more, but this is a good place to look for starters.

 

[Emily]

Re: Article explains Ebola's cytokine storm in fatal cases

Thanks, Vibrant! Sepsis is such a huge problem now that hopefully some research will apply to these viral infections.

 

[Lizw]

Re: Article explains Ebola's cytokine storm in fatal cases

Turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory as well. I think it's been discussed here. In the case of an epidemic in any of the developed countries (which I do not think likely), it may be one of the easiest things after Vitamin C for the average person to get their hands on. And I am not, btw, advocating either of them as a "cure." Just looking at things people can do to avoid becoming another statistic. Obviously, avoiding contact is the primary caution, and PPE and sanitation the next ones after that. But if, for example, a family found itself quarantined with a possibly infected family member, what could they do to not only help the sick person, but to strengthen their own chances of avoiding infection, etc.

 

[Sharky]

Re: Article explains Ebola's cytokine storm in fatal cases

Vitamin C is an effective broad-spectrum antiviral when adequately dosed.

Some of the mechanisms involved:

-- Increases interferon
-- Increases neutrophil activity
-- Increases leukocyte transformation
-- Stimulates phagocytosis
-- Required for collagen synthesis (helps maintain blood vessel integrity)
-- Stimulates antibody production

Links to a few related papers that might be of interest:

Vitamin C and phagocytic system: present status and perspectives
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/400272

Observations On the Dose and Administration of Ascorbic Acid When Employed Beyond the Range of A Vitamin In Human Pathology
http://www.seanet.com/~alexs/ascorbate/197x/klenner-fr-j_appl_nutr-1971-v23-n3&4-p61.htm

The Treatment of Poliomyelitis and Other Virus Diseases with Vitamin C
http://www.seanet.com/~alexs/ascorbate/194x/klenner-fr-southern_med_surg-1949-v111-n7-p209.htm

Vitamin C In Acute Poliomyelitis
http://www.whale.to/a/greer1955.html