I am posting this discussion in hope of a permanent cure being made possible for Vitiligo and other lifelong debilitating autoimmune conditions which may affect our future generation.
A treatment that will uniformly give 100% result in all the people and which will come out of the present and future studies involving our genes.
First some basic facts-
1. A human genome has 20,000 to 25,000 genes located on 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).
2. The human genome varies from one person to the next and is unique for an individual.
3. There are more than three million differences between your genome to anyone else's.
4. Vitiligo and other related autoimmune diseases like Iritis, Autoimmune Thyroid Disease, Alopecia Areata,Psoriasis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Rheumatoid arthritis, Type I diabetes, Type II diabetes, Inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, Graves’ disease, Colorectal cancer, Multiple sclerosis, Angelman syndrome, Global developmental delay, Autism spectrum disorder, Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Kabuki syndrome, Corneal intraepithelial dyskeratosis and ectodermal dysplasia (CIDED), Behcet’s Disease HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE CAUSED AND RELATED TO COMMON GENETIC MUTATIONS.
http://fulltext.study/download/3214630.pdfhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740779/https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marijn_Speeckaert/publication/...
5. 150 Genes have been identified which are responsible for Pigment Production in the Skin.
6. Till date 42+ GENETIC MUTATIONS have been discovered to be present in different groups of people having Vitiligo . New Vitiligo Gene Mutations are being discovered every year. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740779/http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0022202X15331869/1-s2.0-S0022202X15331869-ma...
https://www.medicaljournals.se/acta/content_files/?doi=10.2340/0001...
http://press.endocrine.org/doi/pdf/10.1210/jc.2015-2126https://www.centogene.com/centogene/inc/testCatalogueDetail/factshe...
http://ac.els-cdn.com/S2214540016000074/1-s2.0-S2214540016000074-ma...
7. These Genetic Mutations in Vitiligo were discovered after analysing the genome of one particular set of people like of Caucasian or of Arab or of Chinese or Romanian or Indian people.
8. These Genetic mutations apparent in one group of people may or may not manifest in the other group of people. It even may or may not manifest in one individual to the next.
Like the below studies where MTHFR gene mutation was found in Chinese but not in Iranian people.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjd.12845/fullhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3810692/
9. Mutations once occuring whether "acquired(somatic)" or "Heriditory" cannot be reversed.
10. "Acquired" mutations are not passed on from one generation to the next.
11. New Mutations can be induced or created .
12. Theses New Mutations can be in the form of "beneficial" and "neutral" mutation.
13. "Neutral" mutations are defined as mutations that do not influence the fitness of an individual. http://www.darwinwasright.org/mutation.html
14. "Cure" means something which is permanent and a person once "cured" does not require any medication thereafter.
15. No inclusive studies of these 42+ mutations is taking place nor can take place as the list of new mutations found related to Vitiligo is growing at the rate of 5 to 10 each year and a final database is yet to be created. So it's anybody's guess where the final list may end up as there are 3 million variations in the genome of one person to the next. So if I have Vitiligo and my neighbour next door has vitiligo then the mutation present in my genome may not be the same as the mutation present in his, it's as simple as that.
16. All current studies be it of Caroline Le Poole, Dr Wagner, or Prof Torello Lotti or others, are only looking at the different responses at the cellular level in Hsp70i, Cell Adhesion , or cytokines. But they have not examined whether these differing responses present in Vitiligo at the cellular level arise out of the same or different or which Genetic mutation/s and what to do about those mutations.
So from above can we conclude that-
1.The reason behind the proposed use of drugs for neurological disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, etc for treating Vitiligo is due to the fact of they being caused by a common genetic mutation.
2.The reason why they too will not be able to give a permanent cure as they will only address a single defect/irregularity arising out of a mutation without addressing the mutation itself which cannot be changed or reversed.Their results will be just comparable to current already available therapies.
3.The present research of Genetic Mutations is focussed on creating a database of Genetic Mutations common to a group of people like Indian, Chinese, European, etc or a group made on basis of the disease like Vitiligo only group, Vitiligo +thyroid, vitiligo + celiac, vitiligo+celiac+thyroid, etc. But this database is yet to take a final shape as their are subtle variations of the genome of one nationality to the next, one race to the next and even one individual to the next.
4.The research into genetic mutations vis a vis the condition/disease still has a long way to go. As they are yet to identify all the mutations/polymorphism present in different people suffering from Vitiligo and other autoimmune conditions.
5.The Genetic Theory Research is yet to evolve to the point it can examine the possibility of inducing a parallel mutation by cloning to neutralise the effect of the negative mutation and research regarding the possibility of this is yet to take place
6.This parallel mutation can be in the form of a "beneficial" and "neutral" mutation so no new negative effects are created by its inducement.
7. This induced beneficial and neutral parallel mutation can be such that will permanently neutralise the negative effects of the Vitiligo causing mutation.
8.After this no further medication or treatment will be needed.
9. On the other hand the therapies formulated out of the research into Cell Adhesion,Hsp70i and cytokines will be rendered obsolete and these therapies will have serious side effects which will become completely apparent after more years of research, trials and actual use.
10. While we can hope there will be no side effects if we get a cure using genetics as the induced parallel mutation will also naturally be an acquired mutation so it will not be passed on to the next generation and it will be in the form of beneficial and neutral mutation.
Considering these hypothetical things happen then what will be required to be done-
As Vitiligo and these common autoimmune conditions have NOT been found to be present in a person by birth and these conditions manifest at different point of times during ones lifetime. Therefore, it can be said that the mutations which occur later due to various causes and which give rise to these diseases are not originally present at the time of birth and thus are an "Acquired" Genetic Mutation and not a "Heriditory" Genetic Mutation.
This "acquired" change in our genes can be balanced by creating a further neutral and beneficial Genetic Mutation.
So free and mandatory genetic testing must be done and a record thereof maintained of all newly borns. It must be made as routine, free and compulsory as the immunisation program is today in most countries. Or made atleast optional like the preservation of a baby's cord is presently done for future use of stem cells.
At first showing signs of these autoimmune conditions including Vitiligo a fresh genetic test must be done to pinpoint the "acquired" mutations occurring in an individual giving rise to the disease and which were not present in the Genetic chart at the time of birth.
And on the basis of this narrowing down of the negative mutation new "parallel" "neutral" "beneficial" genetic mutations which need to be induced in a person should be determined and induced by cloning for balancing the negative mutations present in his genes.
More research interlinking these possibilities need to take place. Genetic Mutation Theory has all the answers towards a Permanent Cure without the use of any medicines. Our researchers and scientists need to be uplauded for there efforts so far as they are moving in the right direction.
Cure using genetics is still years away from becoming a reality many theories will come and go, many old theories will be restored or torn apart but a cure will definitely come in the future.
In the meantime if you anybody can shed more light on the genetics angle in Vitiligo it will be greatly appreciated and if anybody talks about a "cure" before 2045 AD I will beat him with a stick and may also report him/her.
With this wish I end this year with a hope that in the next year 2017 we will see things moving in the right direction for finding better treatments for Vitiligo and other related autoimmune conditions.
Best Wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year
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→Oxidative stress causes defects in the membrane integrity, also causes lipid peroxidation, generates hydrogen peroxide in the skin that mutates mitochondrial DNA. All this weakens cell adhesion. NSV starts because people who are predisposed to have dysfunctional melanocytes, start having mutated melanocytes. Their cell adhesion becomes compromised.
For the time being, we should have in mind:
A genetically NSV predisposed person may live a whole life without triggering the disease. However, once Vitiligo is triggered it becomes hard to cure (not impossible) because melanocyte's main adhesion mechanism will constantly be threatened:
(1) by the action of friction and trauma in certain regions like knees, elbows, hands, feet, wrists, around the eyes, forehead and around the mouth;
Flavio, what you are saying is only single piece of the puzzle. It's like a person celebrating who has found a single gold penny while the real gold chest is kept elsewhere.
If you read this article and try to understand it with an open mind your doubts in regard what various factors are involved in causing of Vitiligo will be cleared. http://www.clinsci.org/CONTENT/120/3/99
ROS (reactive oxigen species) are exactly the bad boys. Their excess (that cause unbalance) is what we call Oxidative Stress. Oxidative Stress causes celular mutation.
Some examples of ROS are: O2− (superoxide radical), OH (hydroxyl radical) and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide).
Pseudocatalase cream only breaks H2O2 into H2O and O2. However, the other bad guys are still there. In order to get rid of them, one has to address many different paths.
Oxidative stress is a complex concept. It's essentially an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the ability of the body to counteract or detoxify their harmful effects through neutralization by antioxidants. The major factors for consideration are: food allergy, poor diet, leaky gut and dysbiosis (parasites, candida, h-pylori, yeast, fungus, etc.).
Additionally, onset can be caused by toxic chemical compounds and pollutants within your body, hydrogenated fats, all kinds of pollution (air, water and food), oils that have been heated to very high temperatures, cigarette smoke (directly inhaled or secondhand), dehydration, too much sugar, too much animal protein in your diet, geophysical stress (like living near power lines or waste dumps), viral infections, preservatives in your food, drugs (over the counter and prescription), artificial food colorings and flavorings, plastics and phthalates, chemical cleaning supplies, chlorinated water (that you drink, shower or swimming), alcohol, pesticides in your food, radiation exposure, psychological and emotional stress, endurance exercise and, rather incredibly, physical traumas within the body (muscle damaging anaerobic training, trauma or injury to muscle, bone and skin).
I understand now what Tom M was talking about. I am making a complaint to Steve Hargadon against you Flavio and ID Vitipatch.
Saurabh Misra > Saurabh MisraDecember 31, 2016 at 4:01pm
This was my original reply before Flavio changed his >>>
Flavio, I hope you have not taken my last reply otherwise.
Cause of trigger of Vitiligo (first signs of Vitiligo) can be anything. It can be ones smoking problem, it can be environmental pollutants, it can be pesticide laden food items, it can be the personal care products we use everyday which has things it shouldn't, even daily use items detergents, glass cleaners etc, it can be your polluted water supply with too much fluoride, it can be genetically modified non organic crops, even the wrong sunscreen, exposure to antibiotics, bacteria, yeast, fungus, virus.
Once triggered it's first of all important to go back in time and pinpoint one of such cause and remove it from your life if you can.
Then comes the therapy oral and topical. Both of which are either-
A) With Side effects
1) Topical-( I)Cortisone Preparations ( eg. Mometasome Furate, Clobetasol, betamethasone)
(II)Calcineurin Inhibitors ( eg Pimecrolimus, Tacrolimus- off label use)
2) Oral- taking various forms of steroids, taking various forms of immunosuppressants.
B) With minimal side effects
1) Topical- (I) Vitamin D analog creams (calcipotriene - calcitriol off lable use)
(II) Antioxidant Creams (Pseudocatalase)
(III) Other Natual Creams/ Ointments with Psorlea, Vitamin E, etc in it.
2. Oral- Supplements and Diet change.
Both these treatments may be accompanied by UV exposure either by direct sunlight or UVA and UVB equipments.
Only this much one can done at present. It's ones choice to choose either of these therapies, I have chosen the (B) option after suffering with the (A) option.
Its good to know research is being done and things are moving forward and you feel good when you go through study papers like above which summarise what has been done until the publishing of those studies
Replies
Where did you read, that this genetic mutations are not reversible for example due to healthy lifestyle..there is a big research on epigenetic now.
Remember:
→Oxidative stress causes defects in the membrane integrity, also causes lipid peroxidation, generates hydrogen peroxide in the skin that mutates mitochondrial DNA. All this weakens cell adhesion. NSV starts because people who are predisposed to have dysfunctional melanocytes, start having mutated melanocytes. Their cell adhesion becomes compromised.
For the time being, we should have in mind:
A genetically NSV predisposed person may live a whole life without triggering the disease. However, once Vitiligo is triggered it becomes hard to cure (not impossible) because melanocyte's main adhesion mechanism will constantly be threatened:
(1) by the action of friction and trauma in certain regions like knees, elbows, hands, feet, wrists, around the eyes, forehead and around the mouth;
(2) facilitated by oxidative stress, and;
(3) accelerated by stress hormones.
If you read this article and try to understand it with an open mind your doubts in regard what various factors are involved in causing of Vitiligo will be cleared. http://www.clinsci.org/CONTENT/120/3/99
I did.
ROS (reactive oxigen species) are exactly the bad boys. Their excess (that cause unbalance) is what we call Oxidative Stress. Oxidative Stress causes celular mutation.
Some examples of ROS are: O2− (superoxide radical), OH (hydroxyl radical) and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide).
Pseudocatalase cream only breaks H2O2 into H2O and O2. However, the other bad guys are still there. In order to get rid of them, one has to address many different paths.
Oxidative stress is a complex concept. It's essentially an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the ability of the body to counteract or detoxify their harmful effects through neutralization by antioxidants. The major factors for consideration are: food allergy, poor diet, leaky gut and dysbiosis (parasites, candida, h-pylori, yeast, fungus, etc.).
Additionally, onset can be caused by toxic chemical compounds and pollutants within your body, hydrogenated fats, all kinds of pollution (air, water and food), oils that have been heated to very high temperatures, cigarette smoke (directly inhaled or secondhand), dehydration, too much sugar, too much animal protein in your diet, geophysical stress (like living near power lines or waste dumps), viral infections, preservatives in your food, drugs (over the counter and prescription), artificial food colorings and flavorings, plastics and phthalates, chemical cleaning supplies, chlorinated water (that you drink, shower or swimming), alcohol, pesticides in your food, radiation exposure, psychological and emotional stress, endurance exercise and, rather incredibly, physical traumas within the body (muscle damaging anaerobic training, trauma or injury to muscle, bone and skin).
Cheers.
Check my old post: http://www.vitiligofriends.org/forum/topics/anti-oxidants-do-all-of...
Flavio, I hope you have not taken my last reply otherwise.
Cause of trigger of Vitiligo (first signs of Vitiligo) can be anything. It can be ones smoking problem, it can be environmental pollutants, it can be pesticide laden food items, it can be the personal care products we use everyday which has things it shouldn't, even daily use items detergents, glass cleaners etc, it can be your polluted water supply with too much fluoride, it can be genetically modified non organic crops, even the wrong sunscreen, exposure to antibiotics, bacteria, yeast, fungus, virus.
Once triggered it's first of all important to go back in time and pinpoint one of such cause and remove it from your life if you can.
Then comes the therapy oral and topical. Both of which are either-
A) With Side effects
1) Topical-( I)Cortisone Preparations ( eg. Mometasome Furate, Clobetasol, betamethasone)
(II)Calcineurin Inhibitors ( eg Pimecrolimus, Tacrolimus- off label use)
2) Oral- taking various forms of steroids, taking various forms of immunosuppressants.
B) With minimal side effects
1) Topical- (I) Vitamin D analog creams (calcipotriene - calcitriol off lable use)
(II) Antioxidant Creams (Pseudocatalase)
(III) Other Natual Creams/ Ointments with Psorlea, Vitamin E, etc in it.
2. Oral- Supplements and Diet change.
Both these treatments may be accompanied by UV exposure either by direct sunlight or UVA and UVB equipments.
Only this much one can done at present. It's ones choice to choose either of these therapies, I have chosen the (B) option after suffering with the (A) option.
Its good to know research is being done and things are moving forward and you feel good when you go through study papers like above which summarise what has been done until the publishing of those studies