Lyme Neurotoxins
Lyme Neurotoxins
Lyme Neurotoxins
I. Introduction
There is a general consensus that Lyme disease symptoms, whether acute or chronic, are
driven largely by inflammation. In late-stage Lyme disease, the inflammatory cytokines
of the early (innate) immune response particularly tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are chronically activated, causing direct damage both
within and outside the central nervous system (Habicht 1992; Ramesh et al. 2005; Kisand et al. 2007; Ramesh
et al. 2008; Rupprecht et al. 2008). A high percentage of patients in the advanced stages of disease
suffer from inflammation of white matter and cerebral hypoperfusion (Fallon & Nields 1994;
Fallon et al. 1995; Sumiya et al. 1997; Fallon et al. 1997; Logigian et al. 1997; Plutchok et al. 1999; Heinrich et al. 2003; Fallon et al.
2003; Donta et al. 2006; Fallon et al. 2009).
appear in late-stage Lyme disease, including refractory depression (Berman et al. 2000; Kudoh et al.
2002; Zarate et al. 2006; Correll & Futter 2006; Liebrenz et al. 2007a; Liebrenz et al. 2007b; Goforth & Holsinger 2007; Paul et al.
2008; Stefanczyk-Sapieha et al. 2008; Matthew et al. 2009), fibromyalgia (Srensen et al. 1995; Srensen et al. 1997; GravenNielsen et al. 2000; Guedj et al. 2007a; Guedj et al. 2007b), and chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
(Harbut & Correll 2002; Correll et al. 2004; Goldberg et al. 2005; Wu et al. 2006; Kiefer et al. 2007; Villanueva-Perez et al. 2007;
observed during active but not control treatment. The mean baseline BDI score was 29.5
( 8.2 SD), and mean final score was 16.8 ( 10.5). Four of eight patients demonstrated
50% or greater decreases in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores during the
3-day follow-up period (i.e., 7, 30, 45, 47, 52, 52, 63, and 83% decreases), whereas only
one of eight subjects undergoing sham infusion demonstrated a similar response (i.e., 3,
6, 7, 8, and 74% decreases and three subjects remained 4, 22, and 33% above baseline
during the follow-up period; Fisher Exact, p > .05). Ketamine-induced mood
improvement returned to baseline levels (i.e., clinical impression and HDRS within 5
points of baseline) one to two weeks after infusion. An exception, one subject
demonstrating marked mood improvement (i.e., baseline HDRS of 41 points; Day 3
HDRS of 7 points), was started on antidepressant medication without having returned to
his baseline level of depression two weeks after the ketamine infusion (HDRS, 15
points). Another patient, who was excluded from analyses because of completing only
active treatment, experienced marked improvement in depressive symptoms (baseline
HDRS 33, final HDRS 16).
In 2006, Zarate et al. reported results in a trial involving 18 subjects with DSM-IV
treatment-resistant major depression. The mean length of illness was 23.7 years ( 12.5
SD). The HDRS was used as the primary outcome measure. Within 110 minutes after
injection, subjects receiving .5 mg/kg ketamine over 40 minutes showed significant
improvement in depression compared with subjects receiving placebo. One day after
infusion, 71% of subjects (12 of 17) met response criteria of 50% or greater reduction in
symptoms of depression, and 29% (5 of 17) were in remission. One week after infusion,
35% (6 of 17) maintained response. Two weeks after infusion, 12% (2 of 17) maintained
response
Significant but less robust results were reported in 2009 from a double-blind, randomized
trial involving 26 patients at the same dose/rate as in the prior trials (Mathew et al. 2009).
Seventeen patients (65%) met response criterion ( 50% reduction from baseline on the
MontgomeryAsberg Depression Rating Scale) 24 h following ketamine. Lamotrigine
failed to attenuate the mild, transient side-effects associated with ketamine and did not
enhance its antidepressant effects. Fourteen patients (54%) met response criterion 72 h
following ketamine and proceeded to participate in a 32-d, randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled, flexible-dose continuation trial of riluzole (100200 mg/d). The main
outcome measure was time-to-relapse. An interim analysis found no significant
differences in time-to-relapse between riluzole and placebo groups, with 80% of patients
relapsing on riluzole vs. 50% on placebo.
Several case reports have demonstrated the same, remarkable antidepressant effect as in
the trials (Kudoh et al. 2002; Correll & Futter 2006; Liebrenz et al. 2007a; Liebrenz et al. 2007b; Goforth & Holsinger 2007; Paul
et al. 2008; Stefanczyk-Sapieha et al. 2008).
In 2007, Charney et al. reported remarkable and sustained benefits in three highlyrefractory depressed patients after four or five ketamine infusions over successive days,
with benefits lasting up to 28 days. Kollmar et al. reported in 2008 that a refractory,
psychiatric in-patient with ten recent suicide attempts, no response to pharmacological
agents, and only partial response to ECT, obtained symptom relief for three days after
one low-dose ketamine infusion. Two weeks after the first infusion, she was given a
second low-dose infusion, followed by regular dosing with oral memantine. The patient
experienced remission shortly after the second infusion. She remained in remission six
months later, when her case report was submitted for publication.
This author who is being treated by an out-of-state doctor for severe Lyme-depression
has found that co-administration of memantine at a dose above 20 mg daily might
interfere with ketamines antidepressant action. This author has also found that taking 5
mg diazepam prior to a ketamine infusion prevents dissociative side-effects during
infusion, and results in longer duration of antidepressant action. It is not uncommon to
experience vivid nightmares for 1-3 nights after a ketamine infusion. Because stress
induces inflammatory cytokine production, vivid nightmares likely interrupt ketamines
anti-inflammatory effects. After his first three infusions, this author found that although
ketamine provided symptom relief within hours of infusion, the effect was aborted within
one or two days if followed by stressful sleep. The author experiences almost no postinfusion nightmares by taking 5 mg diazepam at bedtime on the evening of an infusion
and the following two evenings with full remission from depression lasting for a week.
This author was no longer taking memantine upon discovering that diazepam prevents
ketamine-induced nightmares. It is not clear, therefore, whether memantine above 20 mg
daily interfered with ketamine efficacy, or whether post-infusion nightmares were
responsible for loss of efficacy during co-administration of memantine, prior to the
addition of diazepam, in this sample-of-one.
B. Refractory fibromyalgia
Abstracts or partial abstracts with excerpts from articles and some of my preliminary
comments will add more analysis
Pain intensity, muscle strength, static muscle endurance, pressure pain threshold, and
pain tolerance at tender points and control points were assessed in 31 patients with
fibromyalgia (FM), before and after intravenous administration of morphine (9 patients),
lidocaine (11 patients), and ketamine ( 11 patients). The three different studies were
double-blind and placebo-controlled, The patients were classified as placebo-responders,
responders (decrease in pain intensity by > 50%) and non-responders. The morphine test
did not show any significant changes. The lidocaine test showed a pain decrease during
and after the infusion. The ketamine test showed a significant reduction in pain intensity
during the test period. Tenderness at tender points decreased and endurance increased
significantly, while muscle strength remained unchanged.
Twelve female fibromyalgia patients were included in the ketamine component of the
study, but one patient was subsequently excluded because she did not complete the study.
The mean age was 39 (range 23-53) years. The median duration of the fibromyalgia
symptoms was 3 (range 3-28 years). Six patients regularly used analgesic drugs such as
paracetamol or dextropropoxyphene. Eight patients were at work full- or half-time, one
studied and two had a disability pension.
During a one-week period before the first infusion (ketamine or saline) was given, during
the one-week between the two infusions, and during one-week after the second infusion
was given, the patients scored global pain once a day, on a vertical Visual Analogue Pain
scale (VAS), length 100 mm anchored at No pain and Worst imaginable pain An
intravenous cannula was inserted on the dorsum of the hand or the forearm. The patients
were given either 0.3 mg ketamine per kg body weight or the same volume of isotonic
saline by infusion pumps over a ten minute period. [Low-dose and very short duration I
wouldnt expect results with this dosing regimen].
Pain intensity was scored one week before and after the infusion of saline and ketamine,
respectively. Median (range) pain intensity score was 46 (range 2-93) and 50 (range 2100) for saline. The corresponding scores for ketamine were 58 (range 2-100) and 53
(range 2-95).
There was a significant reduction of pain at the end of the ketamine injection (p<0.05),
and 20-80 min after the end of the injection compared to placebo (p<0.0l-p<0.001). The
patients were classified as follows: 1 placebo responder, 8 responders, and 2 nonresponders. Six of the responders had a reduction in pain for 2-7 days. Statistically
significant differences were seen in pressure pain threshold and pain tolerance at tender
points, control points, and muscle endurance. No statistically significant differences were
seen in muscle strength after ketamine or after placebo. RPE scores at the end of the
endurance tests were unchanged. No spontaneous adverse effects were reported during
and after the placebo infusion. During ketamine administration, 10 of the patients
reported side effects. These included a feeling of unreality in five patients, dizziness in
four, and changes in hearing in three. These symptoms began shortly before the end of
the injection and had disappeared after 15 min. [No benzodiazepine was used to reduce
dissociative effects].
Pain was analyzed in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) in a randomized, double blind,
crossover study using intravenous (i.v.) administration of different drugs. METHODS: In
18 patients with FM muscle pain to i.v. administration of morphine (0.3 mg/kg),
lidocaine (5 mg/kg), ketamine (0.3 mg/kg) [low dose duration?], or saline was
studied. Spontaneous pain intensity, muscle strength, static muscle endurance,
pressure pain threshold, and pain tolerance at tender points and non-tender point
areas were followed. Drug plasma concentrations and effects on physical functioning
ability score (FIQ) were recorded. A personality inventory (KSP) was used to related
pain response to personality traits. RESULTS: Thirteen patients responded to one or
several of the drugs, but not to placebo. Two patients were placebo responders
responding to all 4 infusions. Three were nonresponders to all infusions.
Seven of the responders had a reduction in pain for 1-5 days. Pressure pain
threshold and pain tolerance increased significantly in responders. Plasma
concentrations were similar in responders and nonresponders. FIQ values improved
significantly after the ketamine infusion. Responders scored higher on KSP scales for
somatic anxiety, muscular tension, and psychasthenia compared with healthy
The pressure PT at the TA muscle was increased after ketamine (42.4+/-9. 2% of predrug PT) compared with placebo (7.0+/-6.6%, P<0.011). The present study showed that
mechanisms involved in referred pain, temporal summation, muscular hyperalgesia, and
muscle pain at rest were attenuated by the NMDA-antagonist in FMS patients.
We evaluated brain SPECT perfusion before treatment with ketamine, using voxelbased analysis. The objective was to determine the predictive value of brain SPECT for
ketamine response.
Seventeen women with FM (4811 years; ACR criteria) were enrolled in the study. Brain
SPECT was performed before any change was made in therapy in the pain care unit. We
considered that a patient was a good responder to ketamine if the VAS score for pain
decreased by at least 50% after treatment. A voxel-by-voxel group analysis was
performed using SPM2, in comparison to a group of ten healthy women matched for age.
Patients were treated for 10 days in the pain care unit with rising doses of subcutaneous
ketamine (average maximum dose: 100 mg) [very unlikely to be as effective in reducing
cerebral hypoperfusion as i.v. ketamine]. Eleven patients were considered as good
responders, with a decrease in pain intensity, evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS),
greater than 50%. On the other hand, six patients were considered as poor responders.
Responder and non-responder subgroups were similar in terms of pain intensity before
ketamine.
In comparison to responding patients and healthy subjects, non-responding patients
exhibited a significant reduction in bilateral perfusion of the medial frontal gyrus. This
cluster of hypoperfusion was highly predictive of non-response to ketamine (positive
predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 91%). Conclusion: Brain perfusion
SPECT may predict response to ketamine in hyperalgesic FM patients.
[But see companion study below another analysis of the same patients. A plausible
explanation is simply that the nonresponders had more widespread hypoperfusion, and
that subcutaneous ketamine did not adequately penetrate all affected areas of the brain in
the nonresponders].
The aim of this study was to determine whether the follow-up of pain processing
recovery in hyperalgesic fibromyalgia (FM) could be objectively evaluated with brain
perfusion ethyl cysteinate dimer single photon computerized tomography (ECD-SPECT)
after administration of ketamine.
In comparison to baseline brain SPECT, midbrain rCBF showed a greater increase after
ketamine in the responder group than in the nonresponder group (pcluster=
0.016c) in the 17 subjects described in our companion study. In agreement with the
clinical response, the change in midbrain rCBF after ketamine was highly correlated with
the reduction of VAS pain score (r=0.7182; p=0.0041).
This prospective study suggests that blockade of facilitatory descending modulation of
pain with ketamine can be evaluated in the periaqueductal grey with brain
perfusion SPECT.
C. Refractory chronic regional pain syndrome
In individual case reports and small studies, chronic regional pain syndrome has been
treated successfully with prolonged infusions of subanesthetic dose ketamine, and with
prolonged anesthetic dose infusions in the most severe cases.
One of the first case reports, published in 2002, involved a 44-year old woman with a
nine-year history of chronic right leg and foot pain that began without any apparent
triggering event. The patient required a walking cane, and had been on permanent
disability for the previous seven years. The patient had tried numerous therapies, some of
which provided partial and merely ephemeral relief. When presenting for her consult
regarding ketamine treatment, she described a constant burning pain in her right leg and
foot that ranged in intensity from 48/10. She stated that the pain was prominent on
the anterior surface of her ankle and lower leg, and the dorsal and plantar surfaces of her
right foot and toes. Walking any distance was stated to be difficult because, the
percussion of her foot to the floor was extremely painful. While riding in a car, the
patient needed to cushion her leg to ease the vibration. Her car was altered to have the
accelerator pedal moved to the left side, even though the she did not drive very often. She
described a deep bone-crushing pain in her affected area. She also reported that the
following experiences were very painful for her: a dog licking her leg, a child
touching her skin, shaving her leg, and a gentle wind blowing on her skin. She also
noted that clothes rubbing against her skin were very painful and that she preferred to
have her blanket supported above her leg while she was sleeping. She also preferred to
roll up her right pant leg so it was not touching her skin. She also commented that loud
noises made her pain worse, and that she was unable to wear closed-in shoes. Her right
ankle was notably swollen and about 20% larger than her left ankle. She stated this
swelling was common and was reduced in the early morning when she awoke after
having had her feet up in bed.
An infusion of ketamine was started at a rate of 10 mg/hr and increased by 10 mg/hr
every 2 hours as tolerated up to a maximum infusion rate of 30 mg/hr. The infusion was
continuous during daytime and nighttime for six days, with tapering down of dose to zero
on the sixth day. Given the patients weight of 306 pounds, the i.v. infusion rate of 30
mg/hr equaled 0.22 mg per kilogram body weight per hour. Further increases were not
pursued as the patient wished to remain in control and was beginning to perceive a
mild feeling of inebriation. Overall, the patients pain level remained unchanged the first
day with a VAS score of 4.55/10. Her medications included sustained-release
oxycodone 40 mg twice daily, and warfarin 10 mg daily. She remained on i.v. ketamine
30 mg/hr for seven days. At the end of the third day, her VAS score was 3/10. At the end
of the fourth day, her VAS score was 0.4/10, and she had reduced oxycodone to 10 mg
twice daily. During the fifth day, her VAS score reached 0/10, and remained at that level
for the rest of the infusion. During day 6, the rate of infusion was reduced to 20 mg per
hour, and then 10 mg per hour, and then to zero. Five months later, the patient was still
pain-free
In this case report, the patient did not experience dysphoria, sedation, or hallucinations.
The patient was carefully titrated with slowly increasing doses of ketamine up to that
level which just began to make her feel mildly inebriated (Harbut et al. 2002).
In 2004, Correll et al. published a retrospective study of 33 patients with diagnoses of
CRPS patients who had undergone ketamine treatment at least once. Due to relapse, 12 of
33 patients received a second course of therapy, and two of 33 patients received a third.
Generally, the ketamine infusions were started at a rate of 10mg/hr. The rate was
increased in small increments, as tolerated, until the onset of what patients typically
describe as a feeling of inebriation or its equivalent. The onset of this particular
CNS symptom appeared to be necessary to help guide the authors to reach what they
believe is, or is close to, the minimally effective infusion rate for ketamine. Once the
effective rate was achieved, it was continued as long as the patient tolerated the drug and
continued benefit was observed. If unacceptable side effects were noted, the rate was
decreased or the infusion was temporarily discontinued. The highest tolerated dose
producing analgesia (i.e., without unacceptable side effects) was continued for the
duration of the infusion. The average maximum infusion rate was 23.4mg/hr. During
78% of all infusion cycles, patients received ketamine at a rate 25mg/hr. Comparing
the percentage distribution of the maximum ketamine dosing, patients given a second
infusion cycle received a slightly higher infusion rate of ketamine than during the first
round of therapy, that is, a slight shift of the maximum from 1520 to 2025mg/hr. Due
to insufficient responses in three of the patients, the maximum infusion rates were
increased to 50, 46, and 40mg/hr, respectively. This increase was done in an attempt
to maximize any potential benefit for the patients. In two other patients, there
was no response to therapy despite ketamine titration up to 50 mg/hr. These two patients,
who were the only non-responders, were the only patients in the study who were taking
morphine -- in high doses.
The degree of relief obtained following the initial course of therapy was impressive (N =
33); there was complete pain relief in 25 (76%), partial relief in six (18%), and no relief
in two (6%) patients. The degree of relief obtained following repeat therapy (N = 12)
appeared even better, as all 12 patients who received second courses of treatment
experienced complete relief of their CRPS pain. The duration of relief was also
impressive, as was the difference between the duration of relief obtained after the first
and after the second courses of therapy. In this respect, following the first course of
therapy, 54% of 33 individuals remained pain free for 3 months and 31% remained pain
free for 6 months. After the second infusion, 58% of 12 patients experienced relief for
1 year, while almost 33% remained pain free for >3 years. The most frequent side effect
observed in patients receiving this treatment was a feeling of inebriation. Hallucinations
occurred in six patients. Less frequent side effects also included complaints of
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recognize specific molecular patterns that are present in microbial components. To date,
13 TLRs have been identified in mammals (Akira et al. 2004; Gay et al. 2006; Takeda et al. 2005; Liew et al.
2005).
Over-expression of TLR2 is strongly implicated in late-stage Lyme disease. Surface
lipoproteins of B. burgdorferi interact with TLR2/TLR1 heterodimers (Dennis et al. 2009;
Alexopoulou et al. 2002; Takeda et al. 2001) activating genetic transcription by nuclear factor kappaB
(NF-kappaB), which results in release of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-alpha
and IL-6 (Dennis et al. 2009; Hirschfeld et al. 1999). TLR2 knockout mice, and humans with the
Arg753Gln polymorphism in the TLR2 gene, are protected from developing late-stage
Lyme disease due to reduced signaling via TLR-2/TLR-1 (Schrder et al. 2005). Moreover,
monocytes from patients with chronic Lyme disease exhibit a significantly stronger TNFalpha response to LPS as well as to borrelia antigen than monocytes from patients with
early Lyme disease and healthy controls (Kisand et al. 2007) [double check to see if this study
involved TLR2 analysis].
TLR2 is required for the innate, but not the acquired host defense to B. burgdorferi in
mice. (Wooten et al. 2002). Inflammatory cytokine production predominates in early Lyme
disease in patients with erythema migrans, with low levels of the anti-inflammatory
cytokine IL-10 (Glickstein et al. 2003). Yet B. burgdorferi can also suppress the early
inflammatory response by upregulating IL-10, helping enable the infection to disseminate
(Lazarus et al. 2008; Diterich et al. 2001; Giambartolomei et al. 1998).
Although B. burgdorferi does not contain LPS, phagocytosis of B. burgdorferi by primate
microglia enhances not only the expression of TLR1, -2, and -5, but also that of TLR4 -perhaps as a result of TLR cross-talk -- all of which elicits an inflammatory response
(Bernardino et al. 2008).
A recent in vitro mouse macrophage study may explain why TLR2 remains chronically
activated in advanced Lyme disease. (Sahay et al. 2009). Current thinking emphasizes the
primacy of CD14 in facilitating recognition of microbes by certain TLRs to initiate
proinflammatory signaling events and the importance of p38-MAPK in augmenting such
responses. CD14 is expressed by macrophages and neutrophils. Yet live B. burgdorferi
triggers an inflammatory response in CD14-deficient mouse macrophages. The
deficiency of CD14 alters PI3K/AKT/p38-MAPK signaling, compromising the induction
of tolerance and impairing negative regulation of TLR2 in mouse macrophages.
Impairment of this signaling may underlie chronic inflammation and activation of TLR2
in humans. Inhibiting PI3K in CD14-deficient mouse macrophages reduces TNF-alpha
response to B. burgdorferi.
Moreover, CD14-deficient macrophages are able to internalize live B. burgdorferi, but
killing of the internalized microbe is impaired.
CD14 deficiency results in increased localization of PI3K to lipid rafts,
hyperphosphorylation of AKT, and reduced activation of p38. Such aberrant signaling
leads to decreased negative regulation by SOCS1, SOCS3, and CIS, thereby
compromising the induction of tolerance in macrophages and engendering more severe
and persistent inflammatory responses to B. burgdorferi.
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Kynurenic acid and 3-OH-KYN are both synthesized from N-formylkynurenine (Nformyl-KYN), but involving different enzymes.
[Will add more detail for several psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders].
Tryptophan is metabolized in several pathways. The most widely known is the
serotonergic pathway, which is active in platelets and neurons, and yields 5-hydroxyTRP, and then serotonin. TRP is also the precursor of the pineal hormone, melatonin. But
ninety five percent of TRP within the brain is catabolized through the kynurenine
pathway (Robotka et al. 2008). In this pathway, the enzyme indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)
catalyzes the first step in tryptophan degradation. (See figure 1).
Elevated TNF-alpha increases production of the cytokine IFN-gamma, which exerts a
powerful stimulus on IDO. Excessive or pathogenically imbalanced catabolism through
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glutamate are found in ., including epilepsy (Meldrum 1994), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS) (Spreux-Varoquaux et al., 2002), probably Parkinsonism (Maragakis & Rothstein 2004), perhaps
Huntingtons (Maragakis & Rothstein 2004). In order to avoid excessive increases of
extracellular glutamate and glutamatergic excitotoxicity, glutamate must be taken up
from synaptic cleft to the cytosol of glial and neuronal cells to be stored into synaptic
vesicles on neuronal terminals (Robinson & Dowd, 1997; Anderson and Swanson, 2000; Fykse & Fonnum,
1996; Wolosker et al., 1996). The most significant mechanism for maintaining extracellular
glutamate levels below neurotoxic concentrations is uptake by astrocytes. (Rothstein et al.,
1996). However, elevated extracellular QUIN stimulates synaptosomal glutamate release
(Tavares et al. 2002) and inhibits glutamate uptake into astrocytes (Tavares et al. 2002). Thus,
excessive extracellular concentration of excitotoxic QUIN results in overlapping
glutamate excitotoxicity.
IV. IDO/kynurenine pathway-mediated immune dysregulation
A. Simplified and selective overview of some key components in adaptive immune
response
Suppression of CD4+ and CD8+ effector T cells and/or induction of T regulatory cells
caused by overactivation of IDO and concomitant activation of the kynurenine pathway is
likely to be a significant immunosuppressive mechanism in advanced Lyme disease, and
may also contribute to autoimmune reactions.
A simplified overview of some key components in the adaptive immune response helps
in understanding the potential effects of IDO/kynurenine pathway-mediated
dysregulation of the immune system.
During the early (innate) immune response, macrophages and dendritic cells phagocytize
extracellular pathogens and also cells that are infected by microbial pathogens
(intracellular infection). Dendritic cells are an important link between the innate and
adaptive immune response. They present antigen-derived molecules from phagocytized
microbes to T cells in the peripheral lymphoid organs, i.e., the lymph nodes, the spleen,
and the mucosal and cutaneous immune systems. For this reason, they are one of the most
important types of antigen presenting cells (APCs).
Dendritic cells carrying class I major histocompatibility (MHC-I) molecules from
phagocytized intracellular microbes are recognized only by cytotoxic CD8+ T cells.
Cytotoxic T cells recognize and attack only intracellular infections.
[How are CD8+ Tregs differentiated? By characteristics of dendritic cells carrying MHCI molecules?]
Dendritic cells carrying MHC-II molecules from phagocytized extracellular microbes are
recognized only by CD4+ T cells. Depending, among other things, on characteristics of
the dendritic cells that deliver MHC-II molecules to the peripheral lymphoid organs,
CD4+ T cells differentiate into T helper 1 (Th1) cells, T helper 2 (Th2) cells, T helper 17
(Th17) cells, or T regulatory cells (Tregs).
Th1 lymphocytes produce inflammatory cytokines that assist macrophages in
phagocytosis of cells harboring intracellular infection.
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cancer (Mansfield et al. 2009); acute myeloid leukemia (Curti et al. 2007; Curti et al. 2008; Chamuleau et al. 2008),
ovarian carcinoma (Inaba et al. 2009), lung cancer (Suzuki et al. 2009), endometrial cancer (Ino et al.
2008), pancreatic cancer (Witkiewicz et al. 2008), hepatocellular carcinoma (Pan et al. 2008), cutaneous
melanoma (Polak et al. 2007).
[Add studies on effects of natural killer cells].
The mechanisms involved in IDO/kynurenine pathway-mediated immunosuppression are
being studied intensively, and are partially understood.
Human dendritic cells that differentiate under elevated-IDO and/or low-tryptophan
conditions show a reduced capacity to stimulate T helper (Th) cells (CD4+), and favor
induction of Tregs (Brenk et al. 2009; Chen et al. 2008; Hill et al. 2007). The reduced proliferation of
CD4+ T cells and increased induction of Tregs would be systemic (Brenk et al. 2009), and
therefore measurable in the peripheral serum. Similarly, in human fibroblasts, elevated
IDO and kynurenine pathway activation suppresses proliferation of CD8+ T cells, and to
a lesser extent CD4+ T helper cells (Forouzandeh et al. 2008).
The molecular effect of tryptophan depletion and/or exposure to tryptophan catabolites
on CD8+ T cells appear to be associated with limited proliferative response and ability to
exhibit cytotoxic function (Boasso et al. 2007b).
The reduced proliferation of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells is only partially measurable in
peripheral serum, because it also occurs in the local microenvironment where elevated
IDO activates the kynurenine pathway (Brenk et al. 2009; Chen et al. 2008; Hill et al. 2007).
Liu et al. have recently shown that while elevated IDO significantly reduced the number
of proliferating CD3+ and CD8+ T cells in an experimental rat lung allograft, those levels
were still significantly higher than found in normal lungs. Yet the CD8+ T cells that did
proliferate were significantly stripped of their cytotoxic capacity in microenvironments
with elevated IDO, despite remaining viable (Liu et al. 2009).
In patients with chronic hepatitis B, elevated IDO is responsible for immunotolerance
against HBV, closely correlates with HBV viral load, and is negatively correlated with
CD4 (+) and CD8 (+) T cells, and with the ratio of CD4/CD8 (Liu et al. 2009). In patients with
chronic hepatitis C -- which is characterized by weak T-cell responses -- IDO expression
in liver tissue, and serum kynurenine-tryptophan ratio -- a reflection of IDO activity -- are
significantly elevated (Larrea et al. 2007). In hepatitis C-infected chimpanzees, hepatic IDO
expression decreased in animals that cured the infection, while it remained high in those
that progressed to chronicity (Larrea et al. 2007). Elevated IDO and kynurenine-tryptophan
ratio are strongly correlated to viral load and immunosuppressive regulatory T cell (Treg)
levels in the spleen and gut during progressive simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)
infection (Boasso et al. 2007). Elevated IDO and depleted tryptophan also induce suppression of
cytotoxic T-cells in mice infected with malaria (Tetsutani et al. 2007).
Inhibition of IDO as an adjunct to treatment has proven remarkably effective in animal
studies of SIV and HIV infection, and several forms of cancer. In SIV-infected monkeys
experiencing only a partial response to retroviral therapy, partial blockade of IDO with
retroviral therapy reduced plasma and lymph node SIV to undetectable levels (Boasso et al.
2009). In a murine model of HIV-1 encephalitis, the IDO inhibitor 1-methyl-DL-
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predisposed to rheumatoid arthritis, it does not support or detract from the hypothesis of a
post-Lyme autoimmune syndrome, i.e., that autoimmune Lyme arthritis is selfperpetuating in the absence of infection after adequate treatment. No studies have yet
been published concerning the role of IDO in autoimmune B cell pathogenicity in
humans.
Research on the role of IDO/kynurenine pathway activation involvement in human
autoimmunity is in its infancy, yet it is becoming clear that the experimental mouse
models involving autoreactive T cells have not held true in ex vivo and in vitro human
cell studies.
Researchers have recently discovered that at least one subset of IDO-negative dendritic
cells stimulate myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific T cells extracted from the blood of
MS patients, but that dendritic cells treated with IFN-gamma produced significant IDO,
and these IDO-positive dendritic cells did not suppress autoreactive, MBP-specific T
cells from MS patients (Terness et al. 2005).
Likewise, autoreactive T cells derived from the joint fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients
proliferated in response to IDO-positive dendritic cells, which was not affected by
inhibition of IDO by 1-MT in the presence of IFN-gamma (Zhu et al. 2006).
In a study of Graves disease, the serum kynurenine to tryptophan ratio was increased,
which was associated with increased IDO expression in B cells and dendritic cells. Since
IDO is mainly expressed in antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as macrophages and
dendritic cells, the activation of IDO in APCs may cause a local decrease in tryptophan
concentration, suppressing the activation of the surrounding T lymphocytes, whereas
tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (TTS) works in the opposite way. CD4+ T cells derived
from GD patients showed an enhanced expression of TTS, and their proliferation was not
inhibited in the presence of IDO-expressing dendritic cells from these patients. IFNgamma increases TTS expression in CD4+ T cells, and the increased TTS expression in
CD4+ T cells from these patients was IFN-gamma dependent (Wang et al. 2009).
D. Risks of suppressing TNF-alpha and IDO
Ketamine as anesthetic not associated with new infections or malignancies, or with
activation of latent infections or malignancies.
Inflammation may have a protective role and promote regeneration of damaged neurons.
We do not yet know how to achieve a "balanced" inflammation. Because some novel
anti-inflammatory treatment might have detrimental consequences, carefully monitoring
disease progress in patients treated with this category of drugs is indispensable (Aktas et al.
2007; Bransfield ). However, as inflammation, IDO activation, and CNS QUIN levels subside,
so do Lyme disease symptoms. Since short-course, low-dose ketamine infusions suppress
inflammation for days or weeks, and if ketamine is infused only symptomatically, the
immune balance should not be skewed in an anti-inflammatory direction for any extended
period.
Role of tryptophan starvation in controlling specific infections. Higher degree of
tryptophan depletion required to deactivate T cells than to fight off these infections.
20
21
activation phosphorylates c-Jun and c-Fos, two major components in the heterodimeric
structure of the AP-1 activator protein. Phosphorylation causes c-Jun and c-Fos to
translocate from the cytoplasm to the nuclei of macrophage-like cells, resulting in AP-1
activation. AP-1 induces the expressions of the genes for TNF- and IL-6. Ketamine
significantly and sequentially decreases LPS-induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal
kinase, and translocation and transactivation of c-Jun and c-Fos in Raw 264.7 cells. Jun
and Fos are two major components in the heterodimeric structure of AP-1 transcription
factor. Ketamine-induced suppression of c-Jun and c-Fos translocation from the
cytoplasm to nuclei means that this ketamine can decrease AP-1 activation in LPSstimulated macrophages. The AP-1 activator protein induces the expressions of certain
inflammatory genes, including TNF-alpha and IL-6. Ketamine targets this activity
originating at toll-like receptor 4 (Chen et al. 2009).
Ketamine also acts on a wide range of receptors
B. Likelihood of reducing immunosuppression and possibility of terminating
autoimmunity in advanced Lyme disease
By reducing CNS inflammation, ketamine should counteract IDO/tryptophan/kynureninemediated induction of Tregs, suppression of CD4+ and CD8+ effector T cells.
Autoimmunity in Lyme-MS, Lyme-arthritis after adequate antibiotic therapy
Only one in vivo mouse study so far to support this, but possibility that lysis-induced
inflammation can trigger or exacerbate autoimmune response by further activating IDO
and kynurenine pathway
VI. Low-dose ketamine safety profile
A. Side-effects
Dissociative effects
Midazolam, diazepam, etc. for reduction of dissociative effects during infusion, and
prevention of post-infusion nightmares. Include info in drug-drug interactions re.
ketamine increasing sedating effects of benzodiazepines.
...
Thousands of people have taken low-dose ketamine infusions with no serious adverse
consequences. In a retrospective study at one clinic, 500 people had taken low-dose
infusions of ketamine without serious adverse incident. But these were just one-time
doses
Strong safety record as anesthetic
B. Tolerance and addiction
22
Daily dosing with i.v. or i.m. ketamine for an extended period likely to result in rapid
tolerance and moderate addiction. May also be true for weekly dosing. Best approach is
to do a higher dose (for longer effect) as infrequently as possible.
Tolerance and addiction with daily oral dosing? Havent seen any indication of this in
studies discussing prolonged, daily oral dosing. But wouldnt be surprised if this were the
case.
Buprenorphine is a mu-opioid receptor agonist that is used in treatment-resistant
depression. Like ketamine, buprenorphine produces anti-inflammatory effects. Ketamine
acts on a wide range of receptors, including agonism of the mu-opioid receptor. In this
authors experience (sample size one), ketamine and buprenorphine act synergistically
with regard to their anti-depressant effects, and buprenorphine increases ketamines
dissociative effects. On the other hand, this author stopped developing tolerance to
ketamine after beginning to take buprenorphine as an adjunct to ketamine, because
ketamine alone had lost efficacy at higher doses. For the past six weeks on a daily basis,
this author has taken buprenorphine 1-2 hours prior to i.m. ketamine injection, and10 mg
diazepam 15 minutes prior to ketamine injection to reduce dissociative effects, with no
increase in tolerance to buprenorphine or ketamine. Without this combination of
medications, the author suffers extreme, life-threatening depression.
C. Neurotoxicity
To be drafted [no risk of neurotoxicity at subanesthetic doses in adults]
D. Effects of long-term treatment with low-dose ketamine
Ketamine is gradually being incorporated into clinical treatment of several conditions,
including depression, CRPS, and fibromyalgia. There are few published reports of
adverse effects after several months of intermittent IV infusions or daily oral dosing.
Risks
Long-term, daily use of high-dose ketamine -- urinary tract damage, ulcerative cystitis,
disabling frequent urination Controlled effectively by author by Class IV 7.5 W, 980
nm medical near-infrared laser.
Mimicry of schizophrenic symptoms by blockage of NMDA receptor should not be an
issue in Lyme disease if used symptomatically, since NMDA receptor is overactivated.
However, since the NMDA receptor is generally underactivated in schizophrenia, and
because the Halperin & Heyes study showing dramatically elevated quinolinic acid
(NDMA receptor antagonist) in Lyme neuroborreliosis involved a small and
heterogeneous group of patients, ketamine should be used very cautiously in Lymeschizophrenia.
More to add
E. Drug-drug interactions
23
Non-comprehensive list
Morphine, at least in high doses, may block the analgesic effects of ketamine (Correl et al.
2004). Moreover, there is evidence from animal experiments that morphine-3-glucuronide
(M3G), an active metabolite of morphine, activates the NMDA receptors (Correl et al. 2004;
Popik et al. 1998). This would, of course, contribute to overactivation of the NMDA receptor
by quinolinic acid, and would therefore increase neurotoxicity, although the effect may
be masked by morphines analgesic properties.
More to add
VII. Conclusion
Symptom reduction, neuroprotection, etc. . . .
Because ketamine aids in cerebral delivery of IV antibiotics by ameliorating cerebral
hypoperfusion, and may also ameliorate a major form of immunosuppression, the
duration of antibiotic treatment and time to cure should be decreased in Lyme disease
patients using ketamine. Ketamine also offers hope for late-stage patients who cannot
tolerate antibiotic-induced symptom exacerbation.
24
Fig. 1. The kynurenine pathway expressed primarily in infiltrating monocytes/macrophages, microglia and
in part in astrocytes, with only sporadic presence of some pathway enzymes in neurons1
Alphabetical footnotes list common synyonyms
Numerical footnotes provide source references
L-tyrptophan
Kynureninase
(KYNase)[I]
[expressed little in microglia]1
[Vit B6-dependant]
Anthranilic acid
(AA)[N]
Kynureninase
(KYNase)[I]
[Vit B6-dependant]
(KYN)[G]
Kynurenine
aminotransferases[J]
(KAT-IK] and KAT-II[L])
[expressed little in microglia]1
[Vit B6-dependant]
Kynurenic acid
(KYNA)[O] [NMDA
receptor antagonist]
Kynurenine
aminotransferases[J]
(KAT-I[K] and KAT-II[L])
[Vit B6-dependant]
3-hydroxyanthranilic acid
(3-HANA or 3-HAA or 3-Ohaa)[P]
25
L-Tryptophan
synonyms:
(L)-Tryptophan
tryptophan, Ltryptophane
L-Tryptophane
tryptophan (H-3)
tryptophanum [Latin]
(S)-Tryptophan
tryptacin
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
L-kynurenine
H.
I.
J.
K.
(KYN) synonyms:
kynurenine
26
L.
M.
N.
O.
P.
Q.
R.
S.
T.
QAPRTase
nicotinate-nucleotide pyrophosphorylase
U.
28
29
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