Scientists believe a ubiquitous environmental contaminant used in household products such as carpet cleaners, shoe polishes, and carpet cleaners might be responsible for the development of neurodegenerative movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). Parkinson’s disease is already one of the fastest-growing neurological disorders globally, with developing nations reporting an increase of over 30% in the last ten years. The number expects to double again in the next 25 years. Currently, many cases of Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed as idiopathic (no apparent cause), Yet leading neurologists believe that one of the primary reasons for the rapid growth is due to a universal organic solvent is known as Trichloroethylene (TCE).

What is TCE (Trichloroethylene) used for?

Trichloroethylene is a halogenated hydrocarbon (halocarbons). These hydrocarbon compounds have at least one hydrogen atom replaced by a halogen atom, such as chlorine, fluorine, or bromine. Emil Fischer first synthesized TCE in 1864, and over the last 100 years, the chemical has had much industrial usage. Due to its age and widespread use, tce chemistry is one of the most severe environmental contaminants. New research suggests that TCE is a direct causative factor for several diseases, including liver cancer, pancreas cancer, and prostate cancer. TCE is also shown to damage fetal cardiac development and cause neurotoxicity.^[1] Trichloroethylene has also been found as a risk factor in the development of common neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS, MND, Alzheimers, and most recently Parkinson’s disease.

However, there is still some variance across multiple epidemiological studies assessing TCE-related exposure and risk for developing PD. Also, there is still a degree of uncertainty about how Trichloroethylene causes toxicity to neurons, prevent neurogenesis and damage the dopaminergic system.^[2]

The most apparent evidence for the risk of Trichloroethylene to humans has been derived from industrial workers exposed to the chemicals in a workplace setting. A 2012 peer-review in the Annals of Neurology found that Trichloroethylene is “a risk factor for Parkinsonism.” And a 2015 research paper echoed those findings and found direct exposure tce chemical increased the risk of developing Parkinson’s six times more than people who are not exposed to Trichloroethylene (TCE) in the workplace

The study seems to confirm that such widely used and common environmental contaminants can increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s or other neurodegenerative disorders and pose a considerable risk to public health. Most recently, the US Department of Labor also issued guidance on the use of TCE, stating that: “The Board recommends exposures to carbon disulfide (CS2) and trichloroethylene (TCE) be presumed to cause, contribute, or aggravate Parkinsonism.”

Does Trichloroethylene cause cancer?

Trichloroethylene is classified as a carcinogen and cancer of the cervix, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, autoimmune diseases, cholangiocarcinomas, renal cell carcinoma, lung cancer, and cancer lymphatic system, male breast tissue cancer, fetal cardiac defects, and lead to mitochondrial dysfunction. The direct relationship to developing Parkinson’s has been overlooked because exposure to TCE can happen decades before it manifests itself and cancer. While some exposed patients can show symptoms immediately, most others may unknowingly live or work in contaminated areas for most of their adult lives before developing any symptoms related to Parkinson’s disease.

Patients living in sites already known to be contaminated with hazardous materials such as TCE are especially at high risk of exposure. Some countries such as Canada already heavily regulate TCE, and the chemical is also banned in the EU without special permits. It is estimated that over 1 Billion pounds of toxic chemicals are still used annually around the world. In 2018, more than 120 Million pounds of TCE were released into the environment, mainly from industrial sites, which contaminate soil, water, and air. It is estimated that trichloroethylene products can be found in over 25% of groundwater in developed nations, with that number possibly doubling for developing nations.

In the United States, EPA regulations considered a maximum concentration of five parts per billion to be “safe” for TCE in drinking water. In severe contamination cases, residents and workers are believed to have been exposed to over 3,000 times the average level of contaminants permitted by accepted safety standards. There are already dedicated memorial sites known as “Babyland” established to honor the children of military personnel who have died after the pregnant mothers were exposed to TCE-tainted water supply while living on the military bases. Researchers do not believe that low concentrations of TCE in drinking water are enough to cause Parkinson’s or severe illness. Still, studies have linked contaminated well water as a direct cause of Parkinson’s disease not just from TCE but also to other potent pesticides like the herbicide paraquat, a common weedkiller still being used in countries around the world.^[3]

How can we prevent exposure to Trichloroethylene?

A straightforward way to avoid exposure is using activated carbon filtration water devices which can help significantly reduce TCE chemicals in drinking water. For better protection, it’s better to have the entire house on a filtration system as activities like bathing or inhaling vapors from toxic soil or groundwater is very difficult to avoid. Policymakers and doctors around the world are asking for more effective government involvement in testing, proactive monitoring, and remediation of TCE-contaminated sites. Raising awareness of Trichloroethylene will also help many people avoid potentially fatal practices. Failure to address this issue will continue to make matters worse and negatively affect millions of people’s health.

Published Clinical Citations

• [1] ^De Miranda BR , Greenamyre JT . Trichloroethylene, a ubiquitous environmental contaminant in the risk for Parkinson’s disease. Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2020 Mar 1;22(3):543-554. doi: 10.1039/c9em00578a. Epub 2020 Jan 30. PMID: 31996877; PMCID: PMC7941732.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31996877/

• [2] ^ Liu, M., Shin, E. J., Dang, D. K., Jin, C. H., Lee, P. H., Jeong, J. H., Park, S. J., Kim, Y. S., Xing, B., Xin, T., Bing, G., & Kim, H. C. (2018). Trichloroethylene and Parkinson’s Disease: Risk Assessment. Molecular neurobiology, 55(7), 6201–6214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-017-0830-x

• [3] ^ Singthong S, Pakkong P, Choosang K, Wongsanit S. Occupational health risks among trichloroethylene-exposed workers in a clock manufacturing factory. Glob J Health Sci. 2014 Aug 22;7(1):161-72. doi: 10.5539/gjhs.v7n1p161. PMID: 25560356; PMCID: PMC4796495 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25560356/.

We all know what happens when you get a cut. It gets red. It hurts. It might swell or even become extremely warm. While there are certainly more severe cases, this is a typical example of inflammation. Inflammation is part of your body’s natural healing process. When the body detects an injury, infection, or toxic substance, it sends white blood cells and cytokines to the area to repair the problem and fight off pathogens to support your recovery. This process can cause temporary discomfort in the form of redness and swelling.

Not all inflammation is helpful, though. Your body may run into trouble if it mistakes something normal for an injury or infection. Autoimmune diseases like lupus or arthritis are examples of this. The body mistakes its healthy cells for foreign ones. When it attacks those healthy cells, it may cause unnecessary inflammation and injury.

When the immune system overreacts like this, the body may maintain a low level of inflammation. Studies have linked chronic, low-grade inflammation like this to conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in the arteries), cardiovascular disease, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Inflammation may also play a role in autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes, weight gain, pancreatitis and brain function. Learn more about foods that help fight inflammation.

The Gut Microbiome & Inflammation

The gut has also shown to help regulate your body’s response to possible threats and system wide inflammation. Certain beneficial microbes in the gut produce anti-inflammatory molecules known as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) when they digest and ferment fiber. SCFAs can enter the bloodstream, where they can help regulate inflammation outside of the gut. While what you need to support your microbiome may differ from your friends and family, there are three microbe-produced molecules that may play a role in regulating inflammation in your body:

• Propionate
• Butyrate
• Polyamine.

Healing with Stem Cell: Impact on Inflammation

Healing wounds from injury is a complex process requiring a coordinated biochemical response to achieve complete tissue closure. For adults, the healing process results in scar formation, which acts as a chemical and physical barrier but is part of the standard repair cycle. Fetal healing occurs when damaged tissue is replaced without the formation of scar tissue and involves minimal inflammation.

Therefore, doctors practicing functional medicine have often targeted inflammation as a way to emulate the environment where fetal healing occurs. Doctors typically start with dressing the wounded areas and then move through various treatment options with increasing complexity depending on the patient’s healing response.

This progressive treatment protocol often fails to mimic the natural healing processes that occur in an in-vivo setting. Wound care research has resulted in enormous new products, devices, scaffoldings, and cell-based therapies. Still, only 55–75% of the wounds healed properly within the randomized controlled clinical trials.

Isolated mesenchymal stem cells offer a unique treatment option that is dramatically different from current treatment options. MSC+ stem cells can be introduced inside scaffoldings (torn rotator cuffs) by direct injections or topically to work within the microenvironment and influence the natural healing process in a much more regenerative way through the paracrine function.

Learn More

Researchers have just announced discovering a new type of white blood cells (leukocytes) that can save dying/degenerated nerve cells and reverse damaged nerve fibers in patients with head injuries or spinal cord damage. A type of cell that previously was thought only to help fight infection also promotes nerve regrowth and neural regeneration.

5 Types of white blood cells (granulocytes):

• Monocytes usually have a much longer lifespan than other white blood cells and are responsible for breaking down bacteria
• Lymphocytes create antibodies for our immune system to fight against viruses, bacteria, and any potentially harmful invaders
• Eosinophils are the body’s disease-fighting white blood cells. A high Eosinophils count might indicate an allergic reaction, parasitic infection, or cancer
• Neutrophils are responsible for killing and digest fungi & bacteria
• Basophils Are white blood cells in the bone marrow that keep our immune system functioning correctly.

The granulocytes used in the study were found to be similar to that of immature neutrophils.^[1]  These cells’ therapeutic power was tested by injecting them near damaged nerve bundles and directly into injured optic nerves. The results showed that the experimental group showed evidence of regrown nerve fibers, while those injected with mature neutrophils did not improve. This particular subset of immune cells (granulocytes and neutrophils) secrete essential neural growth factors that can be used to quickly increase the survival of nerve cells after traumatic and acute injuries to the (CNS) central nervous system. The findings are another unprecedented discovery that shows cellular stimulation to severed nerve fibers can restore function to the central nervous system.

The next step in this promising discovery is to collect more isolated (neuro-enhancing) granulocytes and culture them in the lab for therapeutic dosages. These immunotherapies are already being used as a safe type of cancer treatment to manipulate chemokines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and other immune-related genes. Besides the ability to reverse genetic conditions, these breakthrough therapies are also being tested for treating traumatic injuries immediately following an accident.

The study of immunotherapies for brain diseases is a prevalent one in modern neurological research. In early 2020, researchers at Stanford University Brain Rejuvenation Program also described a newly discovered subpopulation of CD8 T-cells that can be enhanced with a targeted peptide to relieve MS symptoms effectively. Patients who have neurological deficits have to deal with debilitating symptoms every day. The possibility of helping those patients reverse these deficits and improving the quality of life is fascinating. The findings are very new, and much research never gets translated to the clinical environment. However, such findings offer vast potential for medical advancements in this decade.

The goal for using granulocyte neutrophil growth factors could play a vital role in helping those suffering from brain strokes, cervical spine cord injuries, degenerative neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, ALS, MND, Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injuries.

In the future, neuroimmunology research will lead to the development of new novel cellular-based therapies that can be used safely to restore lost neurological functions for a wide range of conditions.^[2]

Published Clinical Citations

• [1] ^ Sas, A.R., Carbajal, K.S., Jerome, A.D. et al. A new neutrophil subset promotes CNS neuron survival and axon regeneration. Nat Immunol 21, 1496–1505 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-020-00813-0 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-020-00813-0

• [2] ^ Segal BM. CNS chemokines, cytokines, and dendritic cells in autoimmune demyelination. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 2005 Feb;228(2):210-214. DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2004.10.014.. https://www.jns-journal.com/article/S0022-510X(04)00411-3/fulltext

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease affecting middle-aged to older adults. OA and joint arthritis are typically thought of as a “wear and tear” condition of the joints. Still, new research has shown that OA disease affects the joint’s entirety, including joint lining, cartilage, ligaments, and bone. OA is indeed much more common in the elderly population, but it just wouldn’t be accurate to say that the joints are only “wearing out.” OA is often characterized by the breakdown of the cushioning cartilage, degeneration of ligaments/tendons, rapid bony changes in the joints, and various degrees of wide joint inflammation in the living joint synovium lining.

Osteoarthritis usually develops in the hand joints, wrists, shoulders including rotator cuff injuries, knees, hips, back, and feet. Its believed that nearly 50% of OA cases develop in the knee, with about 22% developing osteoarthritis in the hips. OA is of the leading causes of disability in the world. Luckily, there are better, more effective ways to slow down its progression and treat osteoarthritis inflammation using these ten arthritis-fighting superfoods in modern times.

Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of Flaxseed

Is Flaxseed one of the newest wonder food? Preliminary clinical studies show that Flaxseed can help fight osteoarthritis, heart attacks, diabetes, and even some types of cancers. Those who usually eat healthy snacks are probably already aware of the benefits of taking Flaxseed. For the rest of us, Flaxseed has emerged as a must-have superfood that should be immediately added to your diet. [1] Flaxseed are extremely rich in omega-3 fatty acids and offers many health benefits beyond fighting arthritis. Flaxseed has also been shown to help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. To achieve the maximum benefits from taking Flaxseed, add some crushed flaxseed as a topping to foods you already love, like salads, cereals, and açaí bowls. Flaxseed can also blend it into drinks and smoothies, or used as a healthy topping to a cup of yogurt.

Eat More Fish – The Arthritis Diet

Fish is another popular superfood filled with healthy omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins such as B2 (riboflavin). Vitamin D. Fishes are also a great source of many minerals, including calcium,phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, and potassium. If you are not eating fish already, consider adding it to your regular diet at least a few times every week to help fight off osteoarthritis pain in the knee. Many types of fish are packed full of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are well known for their incredible ability to fight systemic inflammation and reduce swelling and pain in the joints. For people with osteoarthritis, Omega-3s can also be used to reduce joint stiffness and discomfort from being stuck in the same position for too long. Do keep in mind that not all fishes are created equal.^[2] Some preferred types of fish include salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel, trout, and sardines. For optimal results, be sure to buy fresh, organically raised fish.

Turmeric and Curcumin – The Osteoarthritis Diet

Turmeric and its most active compound, curcumin, offer many scientifically-backed health benefits. Although the ingredient is not popular in western dishes, it is trendy in south Asian cuisines and curries. Scientists have noted that Turmeric and curcumin is a simple spice with superfood powers. Its anti-inflammatory properties alone make it a perfect option for those looking to reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis. The secret ingredient in Tumeric spice is curcumin, which essentially blocks inflammation from forming, rather than just dealing with it after the fact. ^[3] Cooking with turmeric might is usually the best option as curries are easy to prepare. Still, for those who want the benefits of Turmeric without the curries, curcumin supplements might be a good option.

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil has Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Extra-Virgin Olive oil is widely recognized as one of the healthiest oils in the world. If you like to cook with butter, consider swapping in some EVOO instead. Olive oil is full of dozens of anti-inflammatory properties such as oleocanthal and omega-3 fatty acids that can reduce pain and swelling in hip joints. EVOO is also better for the heart and the waistline when compared to margarine or butter. Keep in mind that Regular olive oil is usually very refined and stripped of the vital nutrients and antioxidants.

In comparison, Extra-Virgin Olive Oil uses a natural extraction process to retain all the essential nutrients and antioxidants from the olive fruit. EVOO can also help reduce bone loss with aging. Clinical studies found that EVOO inhibits bone reabsorption and increases bone formation.[4] The results found that people who consume the highest amount of Extra Virgin Olive Oil had a 53% reduction in the risk of having bone fractures. Learn more foods that boost stem cells naturally.

Eat More Garlic – Psoriatic Arthritis Diet

Garlic is a delicious addition to just about any dish. Like its cousin the onion, Garlic contains diallyl disulfide, an anti-inflammatory compound that has been shown to limit pro-inflammatory cytokines. Garlic’s cytokines can help us fight systemic inflammation and prevent cartilage damage and joint pain from arthritis. Garlic has many other benefits, including being antiviral properties, antibacterial, antiprotozoal and antifungal properties. Garlic is also known to enhance the natural immune system response while suppressing any negative autoimmune responses. ^[5] Throughout history, Garlic has been used for treatment in a wide range of conditions, including upper respiratory infections, sinusitis, and fungal infections. Garlic is so versatile so that you can incorporate it into your diet in a variety of ways. For example, adding freshly minced Garlic to vegetable or meat dishes, roasting whole garlic cloves to use them as a topping on pizza. If Garlic in food is not your thing, concentrated garlic supplements are also available.

Green Tea vs Joint Pain – Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet

For centuries, green tea has been used as a superfood. Modern research has found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can benefit from regularly drinking green tea. Green tea is known to carry many health benefits, including helping to slow down osteoarthritis progression. According to the Arthritis Foundation, green tea also helps fight free radicals, which are compounds in our body that damage the cells. Green tea is an excellent source of (EGCG) epigallocatechin 3-gallate polyphenol, which has potent antioxidant effects. EGCG reduces the activity of TAK1 protein that plays a vital role in the response of cytokines responsible for triggering autoimmune response and inflammation resulting in the tissue damage seen in patients with RA. While some prefer being served cold or hot, green tea is filled with anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants, which can reduce the speed at which our joint cartilage degenerates and limit joint pain swelling.^[6] Green tea has tons of other health benefits, so adding a cup of anti-arthritis green tea to your diet can be beneficial for your overall health.

Broccoli & Sulforaphane vs Osteoarthritis

There have been dozens of studies on the benefits of Broccoli and its crucial compound sulforaphane. From helping children with autism spectrum, prostate cancer, heart disease, and other immune disorders such as lupus. The primary reason is that Broccoli’s antioxidant effects have shown the ability to change the environment on the cellular level from one that promotes disease to one that promotes healing. Research into the benefits of Broccoli suggests that it may stop osteoarthritis from progressing. Broccoli contains vital minerals and vitamins, like Calcium, vitamin C & vitamin K. Broccoli also contains sulforaphane, which has shown to reduces swelling and inflammation in the joints after a sports related injury. Eating Broccoli can help patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis by protecting the knee cartilage thanks to its bioactive constituent isothiocyanates, which can reach the synovial joint fluid in concentrations sufficient to make a biological impact on the articular joints, and change the synovial fluid protein profile overall. Like all produce, Broccoli is most effective when it is fresh and raised organically. Frozen broccoli can also be valuable as it still contains large quantities of the essential nutrients that make it a powerful osteoarthritis-fighting food. [7] Please note that some cruciferous vegetables like broccoli have extra fibre that can cause patients diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis or COPD to have indigestion issues or bloating caused by the extra gas generated in the digestive system.

Onions Can Help Prevent Inflammation

Onions aren’t just another flavor enhancer for your favorite dishes. Onions are very low in calories, have almost no fat, and are full of nutritional components that fight arthritic inflammation-related conditions. Like Garlic and leeks, onions are part of the allium family tree. Onions are also one of the best sources of flavonoids, which are antioxidants that destroy dangerous free radicals before they get a chance to cause damage. One specific flavonoid in onions, called quercetin, helps to inhibit inflammation-causing prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and histamines in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) and can help reduce the risk of heart failure by lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL), better known as bad cholesterol and help prevent the progression of cancers.^[8] One of the most potent compounds in onions is gamma-L-glutamyl-trans-S-1-propenyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (GPCS)can also give a boost to bones by inhibiting premature bone loss and preventing osteoporosis. There are many types of onions, making great ingredients in cooking dishes or raw toppings. Some popular varieties include traditional red onions, white onions, green onions, yellow onions, shallots, and leeks. If you don’t really like the taste of onions, try sautéing them in a dash of EVOO to produce a milder flavor.

Health Benefits of Ginger for Arthritis

Do you add ginger to your dishes? Maybe the concentrated forms of ginger should be in your medicine cabinet. Besides being a delicious spice, ginger is often used to enhance treats, diminish nausea, soothe upset stomachs, help with pain, and reduce inflammation. Like most superfoods on this list, ginger contains components that can reduce joint inflammation and pain caused by osteoarthritis. Ginger contains several chemical substances such as leukotrienes that fight joint inflammation. Ginger also contains the chemical salicylate, which our body converts into salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is used as an anti-inflammatory agent for treating peripheral nerve damage and is used extensively to ease pain and discomfort. Salicylic acid also elevates CDK-5 levels and reduces ischemia thanks to its cell signaling abilities and neuroprotective pathways that assist motor neurons prevent our nerve cells from making certain prostaglandins lipids that result in the sensation of pain.^[9] Ginger has long been considered a valuable spice in Thai food. The ginger root is very inexpensive and can be found in nearly every grocery store, making it easily accessible for all. Ginger can be added to many dishes or boiled to make a delicious ginger-infused tea.

Management of Osteoarthritis with Avocados

Initially, the avocado was considered to be a vegetable but was later classified as a fruit. Avocados are delicious and very beneficial in slowing down osteoarthritis. Avocados are rich in vitamins B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, β-carotene, lutein, monounsaturated fatty acids, fiber, folate, and minerals such as Calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium & copper. These components help the avocado offer a wide variety of benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, antioxidant, and cartilage protective (chondroprotective), making it especially beneficial for people with osteoarthritis who are having inflammatory responses in the synovial fluid. This negative inflammatory response is usually mediated by pro-inflammatory molecules in the body, including prostaglandins, prostaglandin E2, interleukins, and cytokines. Several clinical studies have shown that the ingredients inside an avocado can inhibit the undesired expression of pro-inflammatory molecules (E2, IL-1β, COX-2) in the cartilage, thereby reducing patients’ pain with osteoarthritis. Avocados are another food that helps joint pain also contains large amounts of monounsaturated fat, which can also help lower inflammation in the joints.[10] Avocados can be eaten in various ways, including salads, sandwiches, or whole fruit. Also worth noting that avocado oil is one of the healthiest types of oil that can help improve the cardiovascular system and reduce the risk of liver disease, heart failure or brain strokes.

The Regeneration center believes that if you or a loved one are overweight, combining frequent exercise with a healthy diet is the most effective method of reducing joint pain. For some patients with chronic conditions, a combination of functional medicine and stem cell therapy for arthritis can also offer significant benefits through rapid anti-inflammatory effects to heal and lessen joint pain. When MSCs+ cells are injected into or near damaged joints, they try to eat unprocessed organically grown foods to optimize the intake of superfoods and micronutrients. Patients who are on a renal diet or diagnosed with diabetic nephropathy, kidney failure and PKD should avoid avocados and guacamole, because avocados are a very rich source of potassium.  Our institute of stem cells & regenerative medicine recommends that before you start a new diet, please discuss the plan with your primary GP, rheumatologist, or dietitian.

Published Clinical Citations

• [1] ^ Savaş, B. B., Alparslan, G. B., & Korkmaz, C. (2019). Effect of flaxseed poultice compress application on pain and hand functions of patients with hand osteoarthritis. Clinical rheumatology, 38(7), 1961–1969. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-019-04484-7

• [2] ^ Hill, C. L., March, L. M., Aitken, D., Lester, S. E., Battersby, R., Hynes, K., Fedorova, T., Proudman, S. M., James, M., Cleland, L. G., & Jones, G. (2016). Fish oil in knee osteoarthritis: a randomised clinical trial of low dose versus high dose. Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 75(1), 23–29. https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-207169

• [3] ^ Daily, J. W., Yang, M., & Park, S. (2016). Efficacy of Turmeric Extracts and Curcumin for Alleviating the Symptoms of Joint Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Journal of medicinal food, 19(8), 717–729. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2016.3705

• [4] ^ Nsir, H., Szychlinska, M. A., Cardile, V., Graziano, A., Avola, R., Esafi, H., Bendini, A., Zarouk, M., Loreto, C., Rapisarda, V., Castrogiovanni, P., & Musumeci, G. (2018). Retraction notice to Polar and apolar extra virgin olive oil and leaf extracts as a promising anti-inflammatory natural treatment for osteoarthritis. ACTHIS_119_4 (2017) 407-416. Acta histochemica, 120(1), 64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acthis.2017.08.001

• [5] ^ Dehghani, S., Alipoor, E., Salimzadeh, A., Yaseri, M., Hosseini, M., Feinle-Bisset, C., & Hosseinzadeh-Attar, M. J. (2018). The effect of a garlic supplement on the pro-inflammatory adipocytokines, resistin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and on pain severity, in overweight or obese women with knee osteoarthritis Foods that help arthritis Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 48, 70–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2018.04.060

• [6] ^ Comblain, F., Barthélémy, N., Lefèbvre, M., Schwartz, C., Lesponne, I., Serisier, S., Feugier, A., Balligand, M., & Henrotin, Y. (2017). A randomized, double-blind, prospective, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of a diet supplemented with curcuminoids extract, hydrolyzed collagen and green tea extract for rheumatoid arthritis diet. BMC research, 13(1), 395. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-017-1317-8

• [7] ^ Davidson, R., Gardner, S., Jupp, O., Bullough, A., Butters, S., Watts, L., Donell, S., Traka, M., Saha, S., Mithen, R., Peffers, M., Clegg, P., Bao, Y., Cassidy, A., & Clark, I. (2017). Isothiocyanates are detected in human synovial fluid following broccoli consumption and can affect the tissues of the knee joint. Scientific reports, 7(1), 3398. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-03629-5

• [8] ^ Yang, H. J., Kim, M. J., Qiu, J. Y., Zhang, T., Wu, X., Jang, D. J., & Park, S. (2019). Rice Porridge Containing Onion Root Water Extract Alleviates Osteoarthritis-Related Pain Behaviors, Glucose Levels, and Bone Metabolism in Osteoarthritis, 11(7), 1503. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11071503

• [9] ^ Mozaffari-Khosravi, H., Naderi, Z., Dehghan, A., Nadjarzadeh, A., & Fallah Huseini, H. (2016). Effect of Ginger Supplementation on Proinflammatory Cytokines in Older Patients with Osteoarthritis: Outcomes of a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of nutrition in gerontology and geriatrics, 35(3), 209–218. https://doi.org/10.1080/21551197.2016.1206762

• [10] ^ Simental-Mendía, M., Sánchez-García, A., Acosta-Olivo, C. A., Vilchez-Cavazos, F., Osuna-Garate, J., Peña-Martínez, V. M., & Simental-Mendía, L. E. (2019). Efficacy and safety of avocado-soybean unsaponifiables for the treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. International journal of rheumatic diseases, 22(9), 1607–1615. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31328413/

A diagnosis for autoimmune disease happens when the patient’s immune system mistakenly attacks their own body. Our immune system normally protects us from germs, viruses, and bacteria. When the immune system senses these foreign invaders, it takes an army of cells to attack the threat. Under normal circumstances, our immune system can distinguish dangerous foreign cells from cells produced by our bodies.

What Are Autoimmune Diseases?

In autoimmune diseases, our immune system mistakes friends from foe and releases auto-antibodies that attack normal healthy cells in the body, like skin cells, organs, or joints. There are over 100 known Autoimmune Diseases, each causing damage to different parts of the body. For example, patients with Type 1 diabetes, get autoimmune damage to the pancreas while other autoimmune diseases, like systemic lupus erythematosus and Fibromyalgia, affect the entire body.[1] Autoimmune brain diseases are diagnosed when the immune system attacks healthy neural cells and tissues in the spinal cord or brain which results in inflammation. The inflammatory response is what causes impaired cognitive and neurological function.

Why does the immune system attack our own body?

Medical researchers don’t know what triggers an immune-system misfire, but some people are more likely to acquire the autoimmune disease than others. A recent study found that women get diagnosed with autoimmune diseases at a rate of 2 to 1 compared to men. For women, Autoimmune disease generally starts during the ages of 15 to 45, which are a woman’s childbearing years. Some autoimmune diseases are also much more common in some ethnic groups. Lupus, as an example, affects more people with African and Hispanic populations than Caucasians. Some cases can be genetic autoimmune disease and run in families. While it doesn’t affect every person in the family, it does increase the risk of acquiring an autoimmune condition. Learn about genetic screenings for autoimmune disease.

Risk factors of Autoimmune Diseases

Over the last 40 years, regenerative medical researchers have also noted a steep rise in autoimmune diseases that may be contributed to exposure to environmental exposure to solvents and chemicals. Other suspected risk factors for developing autoimmune disease & arthritis include food high in fat, artificial sugars, and processed foods. It is believed that some processed foods lead to systemic inflammation, which can trigger an immune response. Other known factors that can increase the risk of having autoimmune disease include age, genetics, gender, viral & bacterial infections.^[2]

The 10 Common Autoimmune Diseases in 2022

The list of autoimmune diseases is quite large with more than 100 known types autoimmune inflammatory disorders but 10 of the most common ones include:

1. Type 1 diabetes (TD1) was previously known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease where our pancreas produces very little or no insulin. Our pancreas is responsible for producing the hormone insulin, which regulates our blood sugar levels. Their immune system attacks insulin-producing cells for patients with type 1 diabetes, which slowly destroys pancreatic function. Over time, higher blood sugar levels damage blood vessels and surrounding organs like the kidneys, eyes, peripheral nerves and can lead to heart failure.

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an common systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease and chronic inflammatory disorder that affects various joints in the body but can affect other areas. A diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis can lead to low red blood cell counts, inflammation around the heart and lungs. RA typically results in painful swollen joints in the wrists and hands. Patients with RA often report pain and stiffness following periods of rest. Unlike osteoarthritis (OA), which commonly affects older adults as they get older, rheumatoid arthritis can start in the early 30s or sometimes sooner.

3. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that attacks and damages the myelin sheath (central nervous system) and spinal cord. The myelin sheath is the protective coating surrounding nerve cells and motor neurons. Myelin is primarily made up of fatty substances and proteins. The myelin sheath helps electrical impulses and neurotransmitters send and receive paracrine signals quickly and efficiently along in the central nervous system. Damage to myelin sheath results in slowing down the speed of messages between the brain and spinal cord. Over time, the damage leads to other symptoms like neuropathy, visual disturbances, numbness, prickling (pins and needles), balance issues, weakness, thinking, memory problems, and trouble walking. There are several types of neurological autoimmune diseases including Multiple sclerosis which can progress at different speeds. Statistics show that multiple sclerosis t cell reductions affects women more often than men an usually begins between the ages of 18 and 40.

4. The systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is another common autoimmune disease. In SLE, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue throughout the body. In the 19th century, lupus was thought of as a skin disease because of a typical rash that it produces and tnf induced psoriasis. The most common type of lupus is a systemic version that typically affects organs like the kidneys, brain, and heart but can also result in severe joint pain, chronic fatigue, cardiovascular issues and body rashes. The underlying causes of lupus erythematosus are still unknown but doctors believe it may be due to heredity causes, bacterial or viral infections, reaction to medications, or prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light. Lupus can affect patients of all ages (including children). However, it is most often diagnosed in women during childbearing years. Women are affected by lupus far more than men. Learn about stem cell therapy for lupus.

5. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation in the intestinal wall’s linings. There are two primary types of IBD, including Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis. The symptoms of IBD are characterized by inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but the GI tract area depends on the type of IBD the patient is diagnosed with. Patients with Crohn’s disease can get inflammation in any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the inside of the mouth down to the anus. On the other hand, ulcerative colitis primarily affects the linings of the rectum and large intestine (colon).^[3] Common symptoms of IBD can include:

• Bloody Diarrhea
• Iron deficiency (anemia) due to blood loss
• Abdominal pain & cramps
• Fever
• Frequent bowel movements
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

6. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) –  also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks and damages the patients’ thyroid glands, causing it to produce less thyroid hormone an underactive thyroid. HT can be a life-threatening disease that develops after long-term hypothyroidism, often due to untreated Hashimoto’s disease. Signs and symptoms of HT include:

• Drowsiness
• Lethargy and Chronic fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Hair loss
• Constipation
• Facial swelling
• Weight gain
• Stiff and painful joints
• Sensitivity to cold

Causes for Hashimoto’s disease generally include genetic‎ and environmental factors, and the disease affects women more often than men.

7. IgA nephropathy and Glomerulonephritis are autoimmune related to kidney diseases. IgA nephropathy is diagnosed when the IgA protein (albumin) usually helps our body fight infections settles into the kidneys instead of passing. Over time, IgA deposits cause the kidneys to start leaking blood and protein in the urine (proteinuria). When too much protein leaks into our urine, a person’s hands and feet begin to swell. IgA nephropathy is a chronic condition, and over time about 30 percent of patients develop renal failure. IgA nephropathy can happen at any age, but less than 10 percent of children’s cases result in total kidney failure. Chronic kidney failure symptoms include edema (swelling) in the feet & hands, fatigue, headaches, nausea, and sleep disorders. Patients with end-stage kidney failure need hemodialysis and are often placed on a kidney transplant waiting list, for autoimmune IgA nephropathy men are more often diagnosed than women. Besides diabetic nephropathy, PKD and hypertension (high blood pressure), IgA nephropathy is one of the most common kidney diseases.

Glomerulonephritis is another type of autoimmune kidney disease that attacks the waste filtration function of the kidneys. Glomerulonephritis is diagnosed when damage to the glomerulus causes protein and blood to be lost in the urine. The disease often develops quickly, and kidney function can be lost within weeks (rapidly progressive Glomerulonephritis). About 25% of patients diagnosed with chronic Glomerulonephritis have no family history of kidney disease.
The causes for patients are often unknown, but some of the following reasons might increase the risk of acquiring the condition:

• Amyloidosis
• Abscesses
• IgA nephropathy
• Goodpasture syndrome
• Exposure to environmental toxins or hydrocarbon solvents
• Reaction to prescription medications
• Heavy use/misuse of pain relievers including NSAIDs
• Blood or lymphatic system disorders
• Previous history of cancer
• Viruses or bacterial infections
• Heart infections, previous heart attacks or heart disease
• Membranoproliferative GN
• Anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody disease
• Henoch-schonlein purpura
• Lupus nephritis

Common symptoms include dark brown or rust-colored urine, foamy urine, and/or swelling in the face, ankles, eyes, feet, abdomen, or legs.

8. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) also known as Bechterews disease or spinal arthritis, is an autoimmune disease of the spine. AS causes swelling inside the spinal vertebrae and in the joints between the pelvis and spine. Ankylosing spondylitis is more often diagnosed in men and can often be HLA-B27 variation in persons DNA. Symptoms of Ankylosing spondylitis include severe back pain and chronic stiffness. These symptoms of AS often in early adulthood, and if left untreated, ankylosing spondylitis fuses the spinal vertebrae, thus limiting movement. Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disease that attacks muscles and also result in pain, inflammation, and stiffness in other joints such as hips, shoulders, ribs, hands, knees and feet. Although rare, AS can sometimes affect the eyes (iritis & uveitis), lungs, and heart function.

9. Axonal & neuronal neuropathy (AMAN) sometimes referred to as Guillain-Barré syndrome, is an autoimmune disease characterized by paralysis and loss of reflexes but without sensory loss. AMAN syndrome appears as a progressive symmetric paralysis resulting in loss of muscle function and absence of normal neurologic reflexes (knee jerk reactions). Axonal & neuronal neuropathy happens when antibodies attack the outer coatings of motor neurons but without causing inflammation. The attacks do not affect sensory neurons, so the patients’ sensations remain but without movement. AMAN is part of multiple autoimmune syndrome (MAS) so patients with axonal & neuronal neuropathy are found in patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cases with respiratory failure. A similar type of neuropathic autoimmune disease is chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). This rare disorder occurs when the immune system attacks the nerve roots and destroys the myelin sheath resulting in paralysis and/or impairment in the patient’s arm and leg motor function. Patients with CIDP also report a sensory loss, numbness, burning sensations, and tingling. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy can affect any age group and can begin anytime in life.

10. Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a chronic disease that is characterized by widespread body pain, tenderness, and chronic fatigue. Although Fibromyalgia is not considered a classical autoimmune disease, it accompanies other similar autoimmune rheumatic and endocrine diseases. Patients with Fibromyalgia often experience morning stiffness, sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, and irritable bowel syndrome. Often it is also accompanied by. FMS can be very difficult to diagnose because many of the symptoms are similar to other disorders. To learn more about how to deal with autoimmune fatigue visit here.

Although there are many types of autoimmune diseases, the symptoms often overlap making them very difficult to diagnose. Disease can manifests itself as mild but distressing symptoms affecting the person’s quality of life for some patients. Still, for others, it can be severe sometimes fatal due to severe tissue damage.

Stem Cell Therapy for Autoimmune disease

In many cases, traditional management strategies include taking medication, changing a person’s diet, and making other lifestyle changes to reduce the symptoms. Autoimmune conditions are most often treated with immune suppressive agents that can provide temporary improvement but carry many long-term adverse effects and require perpetual life-long treatments. Learn about how some foods can increase your circulating stem cells

Recent breakthroughs in functional healthcare have shown that enhanced Mesenchymal Stem cells (MSC+), progenitor and SVF cells can be used effectively to promote healing on the cellular level for many common (non-genetic) types of autoimmune diseases.^[4] For genetic conditions several clinical trials are being done currently to use gene therapies to cure hereditary autoimmune diseases. Learn more about the Regen Center DNA test for Autoimmune disorders. Besides the ability to heal damaged tissues, autoimmune disease treatment using stem cells can help modulate the immune system (immunomodulatory properties)[5] to turn off the unwanted pathological responses while preserving the immune systems ability to fight off disease. Isolated and expanded Mesenchymal stem cells and tissue-specific growth factors can be used to target specific areas with inflamed tissue and help the body restart the production of anti-inflammatory agents, macrophages, T cells, neutrophils, and monocytes. These cellular mediators do not suppress the patents immune response while increasing production of B cells, NK cells, dendritic cells, progenitor cells, and T regulatory cells, which is a type of immune cell that protects our body from immunological self-attacks and normalize cell apoptosis, promote angiogenesis and neurogenesis.

MSCs+ stem cell transplants are not effective or appropriate for all causes but can be recommended for autoimmune diseases as they provide immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory effects. Stem cell therapy can help renew the lymphatic system, restart a defective immune system, reduce disease activity, and lead to long-term remissions. Stem cells can also be beneficial for patients who are resistant to conventional treatments, failed surgeries, or those who have become sensitive to conventional therapies thanks to the immunomodulatory properties of enhanced mesenchymal (MSCs+) Stem cells.

Published Clinical Citations

• [1] ^ F H Abouali, D S Sheha, H M Elsayed, N A Ibrahim, S T Kamal, Y S Sharawy, IgA Deficiency in type 1 Diabetes Mellitus patients, QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, Volume 113, Issue Supplement_1, March 2020, hcaa052.055, https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcaa052.055

• [2] ^ Y.W. Song, E.H. Kang, Autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis: rheumatoid factors and anticitrullinated protein antibodies, QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, Volume 103, Issue 3, March 2010, Pages 139–146, https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcp165

• [3] ^ J. A. SNOOK, H. J. de SILVA, D. P. JEWELL, The Association of Autoimmune Disorders with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, Volume 72, Issue 3, September 1989, Pages 835–840, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.qjmed.a068372

• [4] ^ J.J. El-Jawhari, Y.M. El-Sherbiny, E.A. Jones, D. McGonagle, Mesenchymal stem cells, autoimmunity and rheumatoid arthritis, QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, Volume 107, Issue 7, July 2014, Pages 505–514, https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcu033

• [5] ^ Bulati Matteo, Miceli Vitale, Gallo Alessia EC. The Immunomodulatory Properties of the Human Amnion-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells Are Induced by INF-γ Produced by Activated Lymphomonocytes and Are Mediated by Cell-To-Cell Contact and Soluble Factors DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2020.00054 https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2020.00054

Motoneuron, also known as motor neurons, are a type of cell body located in the brainstem, motor cortex, or spinal cord. Fibers called axons project outwards to the spinal cord can indirectly or directly control muscles, organs, and glands in the body.

Types of Motor Neurons

• Upper Motor Neurons – Axon fibers from the upper motor neurons help communicate with the spinal cord and other lower motor neuron cells. Another type of upper motor neurons are pyramidal cells of Betz or Betz cells. These neurotransmitters are known as giant pyramidal cells (neurons) and can be found in the fifth layer of grey matter in the primary motor cortex. These upper motor neurons are the largest cells in the central nervous system and send axon fibers down to the spinal cord along the corticospinal tract. This area is where they connect (synapse) directly with the anterior horn cells.
• Lower Motor Neurons – Axons in the lower motor neurons help carry signals from our spinal cord motor neurons to muscles or glands (Effectors) and respond to received signals from other motor neurons. There are three types of lower motor neurons, including alpha motor neurons, gamma motor neurons, and beta motor neurons.
• Somatic Motor Neurons (SMN)– SMN starts in the central nervous system and project axons to the skeletal muscles used in locomotion. There are three types of somatic motor neurons including alpha efferent neurons, beta efferent neurons, gamma efferent neurons
• General visceral motor neurons (GVMN) – GVMN help innervate cardiac muscles and the muscles of our arteries). GVMN also connects with ganglia neurons, which are part of the sympathetic and parasympathetic functions in the autonomic nervous system.
• Special visceral motor neurons (SVMN)– SVMN is also known as branchial motor neurons, and help control things such as facial expressions, and swallowing. Learn more about foods that help arthritis.

Why Are Motor Neurons Important?

As seen in the previous example of motor neurons in our brain, the motor nerves primary requirement is the ability to instantly control requires sensory input needed to move accurately. A single motor neuron cell can control thousands of muscle fibers strands, creating innervation to move single muscles (twitch). Motor cell structures in the spinal cord region are considered part of the central nervous system (CNS) and connect to many functions.[1] These motoneurons transmit signals from our spinal cord to the musculoskeletal system for movements. Understanding how to use human neurons in regenerative medicine helps the Regeneration center develop more effective stem cell therapies for patients dealing with spinal cord injuries, strokes and brain injuries from traumatic events.

What is Innervation?

Innervation means “to supply nerves” or “to supply with energy” or “to stimulate.” When nerves embed themselves into muscle fiber, they “innervate” the muscle fibers.[2] This event usually occurs in the neuromuscular junctions and can be identified as simple contractions. They are controlling thousands of individual twitches also us to function and execute movement smoothly and efficiently.

What are Nerve tracts?

Nerve tracts are thick bundles of axons (white matter), these nerve help carry action signals to their effectors. The spinal cord motor nerves carry impulses from many different regions and act as a point of origin for the lower motor cells.[3]

The seven major motor tracts in the spinal cord include:

• Anterior corticospinal tract
• Rubrospinal tract
• Lateral corticospinal tract
• Vestibulospinal tract
• Lateral reticulospinal tract
• Tectospinal tract
• Medial reticulospinal tract

What are Dendrites?

Dendrites cells are segments of the neuron that receives stimulation needed neurogenesis and for cells to become activated. Dendrites conduct rapid electrical signals to the neuron cell body asking the cell to function in a specific way. Our nervous system is in charge of the body and controls all other vital system’s functions. Dendrites and neural stem cells help coordinate performance with other systems in the body and are quick to meet our body’s needs in less than one second. The central nervous system uses neuron cells to create movement, and neurons in the brain are necessary for their structure and function. One of the most critical structures in a neuron cell is the dendrite.

Where are cell bodies of somatic motor neurons located?

Neuron cells require stimuli to become active, and Dendrites are the bridge on the neuron that receives the electrical messages. The electric messages come in two primary forms, including excitatory and inhibitory. Excitatory actions and paracrine cell signalling increase the stimulation of a neuron cell, and inhibitory actions help decrease a neuron’s activity. These signals are accumulated in the neuron cell body (soma) after being collected by dendrites. Once dendrites receive these action signals, they will get sent to an area in the soma called the axon hillock. This area would be in the neck part of a cell body. Once neurons receive enough excitatory signals, they become activated and proceed to create more action potential for other cells.[4]

Damaged Neurons & Dendrites in Neurodegenerative disease

Neurodegenerative disorders are generally characterized as progressive loss of the function and structure neuron cells associated with neuronal cell death (apoptosis). The most common neurodegenerative disorders include: Motor Neuron Disease (MND), Ataxia, Multiple sclerosis , Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Published Clinical Citations

• [1] ^ Benkler, Chen, Alison L O’Neil, Susannah Slepian, Fang Qian, Paul H Weinreb, and Lee L Rubin. 2018. Aggregated SOD1 causes selective death of cultured human motor neurons. Scientific reports, no. 1 (November 6). doi:10.1038/s41598-018-34759-z. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30401824

• [2] ^ Holzbaur, Erika L F. 2004. Motor neurons rely on motor proteins. Trends in cell biology, no. 5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15130579

• [3] ^ Sellers, Drew L, Jamie M Bergen, Russell N Johnson, Heidi Back, John M Ravits, Philip J Horner, and Suzie H Pun. 2016. Targeted axonal import (TAxI) peptide delivers functional proteins into spinal cord motor neurons after peripheral administration. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, no. 9 (February 17). doi:10.1073/pnas.1515526113. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26888285

• [4] ^ Kim, Minkyung, Brielle Bjorke, and Grant S Mastick. 2017. Motor neuron migration and positioning mechanisms: New roles for guidance cues. Seminars in cell & developmental biology (November 14). doi:S1084-9521(17)30465-2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29141180