"Bestatin, an aminopeptidase inhibitor, permits the degradation of cellular proteins to di- and tripeptides but interferes with the further breakdown of these peptides to amino acids. "
"Bestatin is an immunomodulatory peptide that stimulates the humoral and cell-mediated immune system. It also has an inhibitory effect on multiple aminopeptidases.
Recently we found that aminopeptidase N inactivates interleukin-8 in vitro.
Bestatin successfully suppresses the effect of aminopeptidase N on interleukin-8.
During cervical maturation many biochemical changes occur including decrease in collagen concentration and increase in collagenase and elastase activities.
Interleukin-8, which has a potent neutrophil chemotactic effect, was found to induce cervical ripening in rabbits. The combination of interleukin-8 with bestatin also induced cervical ripening by providing approximately regular levels of neutrophil numbers, collagenase, and elastase activities.
We therefore suggest that this regulatory mechanism also takes place in vivo through the inhibitory effect of bestatin on aminopeptidase N."
Danger of too much IL-8:
"If a pregnant mother has high levels of interleukin-8, she has a higher risk of inducing schizophrenia in her offspring. High levels of Interleukin 8 have been shown to reduce the chance of good treatment responses to antipsychotic medication in schizophrenia.
Interleukin-8 is often associated with inflammation."
" Bestatin (Ubenimex�) is used extensively in Japan as an anticancer agent. It has a low toxicity and is readily absorbed after oral administration. Although further research is needed to uncover the mechanism of its effect, the potential of this drug as an adjunct for the
treatment of alcohol abuse should be evaluated."
"Ubenimex (Bestatin), an aminopeptidase inhibitor, modulates protein kinase C in K562 cells"
HIV:
"However, cellular and extracellular LAPase activity as well as total protein kinase C activity was lower in Bestatin-treated cells.
Conversely, the incubation of human lymphocytic HUT78 cells with LAPase promotes HIV infectivity. The possible role of LAPase in the pathophysiology of HIV was assessed by determining LAPase serum levels in HIV infected patients. LAPase activity levels were three orders of magnitude greater in sera obtained from HIV patients than those detected in sera of uninfected individuals.
Although Bestatin reduced HIV infection, a moderate decrease in the reverse transcriptase activity of chronically-infected H9 human T-lymphocytic cells was observed.
Based on the higher levels of LAPase present in the serum of HIV patients and on the combined inhibitory effect of Bestatin on LAPase and on protein kinase C activities, we suggest that LAPase may play an important role in the early events of HIV infection such as viral entry."
PMID: 9477117
Keep in mind, Bb has a "PKC inhibitor" and has "zinc fingers" (as does HIV).
"Zinc can increase the activity of protein kinase C and contributes to its binding to plasma membranes in T lymphocytes."
Just read the article posted from the link by ToLife. The article says that the drug is a new form of the Novartis drug Coartem. Coartem is known in Europe under the brand name Riamet. I have seen comments that Riamet has been used successfully in Europe against Babesia.
Riamet/Coartem is a mixture of two artemisinin based drugs: artemether and lumefantrine. (One is short acting and the other is long acting in the body.) The malarial cure rates are around 95%. It was hard to get kids to take the bitter pill, so this version was developed. I think it is also flavored/sweetened and dissolves easily.
Unfortunately, Riamet is not yet approved in the US. It got a favorable review at an FDA advisory committee in Dec 08, but I haven't seen anything yet. I e-mailed Novartis last week, but the response was that they did not have any news as to when this might become available in the US.
Posts: 170 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jun 2008
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
The first link that TO LIFE posted is about something different than the second link TO LIFE posted.
Just thought I would throw that out there, so that people will understand if two different drugs are being talked about on one thread.
Anyways, regarding the drug that Marnie posted about, bestatin, I found this:
"A dipeptide antitumor antibiotic.1 Binds to cell surfaces and reversibly inhibits cell surface aminopeptidases, and specifically aminopeptidase B and leucine aminopeptidase. Shows no inhibition against aminopeptidase A, trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, papain, pepsin or themolysin.7 Activates macrophages and T lymphocytes. Has antitumor properties.1,9 Effective concentration is typically 1-10 uM."
So it is an antibiotic (I'm not sure if they mean in the broad sense, meaning it kills lots of things, or in the stricter sense, meaning it kills bacteria...which is the way WE use it generally), AND it has antitumor properties?!?!? Interesting. Will it mop my floors too? I want it!
Japanese researchers have also found various uses for minocycline...they have experimented with it for schizophrenia because of it's neuro-anti-inflamatory effects, and also (I think) it was the Japanese that recommended minocycline after a stroke to prevent damage (again, it reduces inflammation).
So it seems like the Japanese don't have the phobia of over-using antibiotics that we seem to have here in the States. (GASP! These drugs might actually help someone). <--sarcasm
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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quote:Originally posted by Hoosiers51: So it seems like the Japanese don't have the phobia of over-using antibiotics that we seem to have here in the States. (GASP! These drugs might actually help someone). <--sarcasm
I agree.....that "overused" "bacterial resistance" argument is so pathetic I don't understand how it plays so well with the public at large. Seems to me that "overuse" would be more the answer to stopping any widespread infectious agent, just like we "inoculate" "everyone" against other pathogens.
Marnie: You've been on the fence about Zinc for a while now..............waddaya tink?.........not as safe to increase as Mg.......but might be more bug specific in the case of Bb.......maybe the reaction will be more in line with the SARS "cure"?
After reanalysis how well do Bb symptoms correlate to symptoms of Zinc deficiencies vs. Mg deficiencies?...in your humble opinion?
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