Dendritic Cells: An Exhausted Checkpoint in Chronic Viral Syndromes, Long Covid and Beyond
(continually updated)
DC Stim
for Long Covid
DC Stim ignites recognition;
LPI Support clears to let go.
Long Covid Summary
​
In Long Covid, viral persistence, novel autoimmunity, reactivated viruses, and/or immune cell exhaustion push the body into a debilitating and sometimes progressive state of chronic illness. The body assumes the worst and produces fast fuel from pyruvate and lactic acid for exhausted immune cells. Prolonged amino gluconeogenesis desensitizes metabolic pathways to glucose and/or insulin and feeds unwanted bacteria, neoplasms, and mycoflora in the process. CD8+ T cell exhaustion, peripheral blood mononuclear cell dysfunction, and fungal translocation lead to a wide array of debilitating patient-specific symptoms.
More information below.
Mechanisms of Action
Resolving illness in Chinese medicine is never simply a matter of eradication but a simultaneous effort to restore function. You cannot resolve illness, trauma, or harm through punishment(more trauma), only restoration. We are gardens, not prisons.
DC Stim is a formula Dr. Michael came up with after years of studying Lingering Pathogenic Illness theory in Chinese medicine, a unifying theory for chronic illnesses that occur after what Dr. Michael believes is injury to antigen presenting cells in immune privileged sites.
All the herbs in DC Stim promote Dendritic Cell maturation as well as Th1 phenotypic expression except for Huperzine A meant to protect neural tissue from inflammation while taking the cleanse.
The formula is generally hydrating and moistening while promoting normal Qi functions like fluid metabolism, digestion, and opening of the pores, all essential to treating Lingering Pathogenic Illness.
Though not considered to cause bleeding, Lumbrokinase is a fibrinolytic enzyme that may have additive effects with medications that thin the blood and should be taken with caution. Neither formula is safe for patients who are pregnant or nursing.
"Nowadays people put Ye Tian-Shi on a pedestal and shelve the idea of lingering pathogens... there is no one to put forward the theory of deep lying pathogens... What a pity! It is recorded in the Nei Jing, Nan Jing, and Shang Han!" -Liu Bao-Yi (1842-1901)
Symptom Exacerbation:
Because DC Stim and LPI Cleanse strengthen antigen presenting cells, the body should react to problematic microbes. In the process patients may feel subjective heat and/or low grade fever, swollen lymph nodes, abormal sweating, irritability, restlessness, thirst, dark yellow urine, maculae/rashes, fatigue, muscle/joint aches/weakness, spontaneous bleeding(a drop of blood here or there from the nose, gums or G/I tract), prickly red tongue, inappropriate sweating, nausea, vomiting, or constipation.
“It is a good sign when a lingering pathogen comes out from the interior to the exterior, and it is a bad sign when it remains hidden.”
-Liu Bao-Yi(1842-1901)
Concerns and Hopes​
​
Cures, in a broad sense, do not exist nor are they what marketing companies claim them to be. "Cures" enable aspects of capitalist and eugenic culture designed to make money only to leave others behind as seen in the global response to COVID-19.
​
More and more research is warning of progressive neurodegenerative disease after COVID-19. If you haven't already, consider applying for disability subsidies in your country if you qualify and/or if your ability to provide for yourself has changed or become unpredictable because of COVID-19.
.png)
Metabolic / Mitochondrial / Redox Imbalance:
​
↓arginine, ↑ornithine/citrulline ratio
(↑ammonia, ↑lactate, ↓NO)
(Redox State Imbalance, ↓NAD+)
(Warburg Effect)
↑amino/hepatic gluconeogenisis
(glucose resistance, dysregulated glucose-alanine cycle, →muscle breakdown)
HHV / EBV / HERV-W Activation:
↑kynurenic acid ↑syncytin-1 ↑DUX4 ↑fibronectin (↑clotting, ↑neoplasms)
All underlined text above links to correlating citations.
​
*Metabolome findings based on https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.05.03.23289456v1.full.pdf
López-Hernández, Yamilé, et al. “The Plasma Metabolome of Long COVID-19 Patients Two Years after Infection.” medRxiv, 1 Jan. 2023, www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.05.03.23289456v1
Davis, Hannah E., et al. “Long Covid: Major Findings, Mechanisms and Recommendations.” Nature News, 13 Jan. 2023, www.nature.com/articles/s41579-022-00846-2
​
Babalghith, Ahmad O., et al. “The Role of Berberine in Covid-19: Potential Adjunct Therapy - Inflammopharmacology.” SpringerLink, 2 Oct. 2022, link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10787-022-01080-1
​
Schaffer, Stephen, and Ha Won Kim. “Effects and Mechanisms of Taurine as a Therapeutic Agent.” Biomolecules & Therapeutics, 1
May 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5933890/
Schaffer, Stephen W., et al. “Differences between Physiological and Pharmacological Actions of Taurine.” Advances in Experimental edicine and Biology, July 2022, link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-93337-1_30
Seidel, Huebbe, and Rimbach. “Taurine: A Regulator of Cellular Redox Homeostasis and Skeletal Muscle Function.” Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, August 2019, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30211983/
Jong, Sandal, and Schaffer. “The Role of Taurine in Mitochondria Health: More than Just an Antioxidant.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), August 2021, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34443494/
​
Michalk, Wingenfeld, et al. “The Mechanisms of Taurine Mediated Protection against Cell Damage Induced by Hypoxia and Reoxygenation.” Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8915359/. Accessed 21 May 2023.
​
Anis, and Zaky. "Glutamine and Taurine: No Longer Supplementary Nutrients." Journal of Anaesthesiology, January 2013, www.researchgate.net/publication/343323133_Glutamine_and_taurine_no_longer_supplementary_nutrients
​
Zhang, Pengcheng, et al. “Berberine Inhibits Growth of Liver Cancer Cells by Suppressing Glutamine Uptake.” OncoTargets and Therapy, 31 Dec. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6978679/
Combs, McClurg. “Sarcosine Dehydrogenase.” Sarcosine Dehydrogenase - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, The Vitamins(Sixth Edition), 2022, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/sarcosine-dehydrogenase
​
Walter, Fruzsina R., et al. “Blood–Brain Barrier Dysfunction in L-Ornithine Induced Acute Pancreatitis in Rats and the Direct Effect of L-Ornithine on Cultured Brain Endothelial Cells - Fluids and Barriers of the CNS.” BioMed Central, 17 Feb. 2022, fluidsbarrierscns.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12987-022-00308-0
​
​
Ou, Xiaofeng, et al. “Cognitive Impairments Induced by Severe Acute Pancreatitis Are Attenuated by Berberine Treatment in Rats.” Molecular Medicine Reports, 1 Sept. 2018, www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/mmr.2018.9313
​
Li, Jie, et al. “Berberine Inhibits the Warburg Effect through Tet3/Mir-145/HK2 Pathways in Ovarian Cancer Cells.” Journal of Cancer, 1 Jan. 2021, www.jcancer.org/v12p0207.htm
​
Almani, Suhail Ahmed, et al. “Berberine Protects against Metformin-Associated Lactic Acidosis in Induced Diabetes Mellitus.” Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, May 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5478779/
​
Aiyun Li a, et al. “Berberine Reduces Pyruvate-Driven Hepatic Glucose Production by Limiting Mitochondrial Import of Pyruvate through Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier 1.” EBioMedicine, 6 Aug. 2018, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352396418302858
​
Guo, Wei, et al. “Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase 1 Facilitates Alternative Fuels for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth-a Small Molecule Inhibitor, Berberine.” MDPI, 9 July 2020, www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/7/1854
​
Ishikura, Keisuke, et al. “Effect of Taurine Supplementation on the Alterations in Amino Acid Content in Skeletal Muscle with Exercise in Rat.” Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 1 June 2011, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3761861/
Sun, Runbin, et al. “The Hypoglycemic Effect of Berberine and Berberrubine Involves Modulation of Intestinal Farnesoid X Receptor Signaling Pathway and Inhibition of Hepatic Gluconeogenesis.” Drug Metabolism & Disposition, 1 Mar. 2021, dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/49/3/276.abstract
​
Yu, Y., et al. “Berberine Improves Cognitive Deficiency and Muscular Dysfunction via Activation of the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1A Pathway in Skeletal Muscle from Naturally Aging Rats - The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging.” SpringerLink, 6 Mar. 2018, link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12603-018-1015-7
​
​
Kosalec, Ivan, et al. “The Spectrum of Berberine Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities.” SpringerLink, 3 Feb. 2022, link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-83504-0_7
​
Li, Jiaojiao, Pin Meng, et al. “Effect of Berberine Hydrochloride on the Diversity of Intestinal Flora in Parkinson’s Disease Patients.” Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging, 30 May 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9170458
​
Duszka, Kalina. “Versatile Triad Alliance: Bile Acid, Taurine and Microbiota.” MDPI, 29 July 2022, www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/15/2337
​
Fu, Ni, Wang, Fu, and Hong. “Berberine Suppresses Mast Cell-Mediated Allergic Responses via Regulating FcÉ›ri-Mediated and MAPK Signaling.” International Immunopharmacology, March 2019, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30861392/
McCarty, Mark F, et al. “Nutraceutical Aid for Allergies - Strategies for down-Regulating Mast Cell Degranulation.” Journal of Asthma and Allergy, 27 Oct. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8558634/
​
Tanikawa, Kiba, Yu, et al. “Degradative Effect of Nattokinase on Spike Protein of SARS-COV-2.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), August 2022, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36080170/
​
Bhat, Mujtaba Aamir, et al. “Expedition into Taurine Biology: Structural Insights and Therapeutic Perspective of Taurine in Neurodegenerative Diseases.” Biomolecules, 5 June 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7355587/
​
Tavaf, Soltanmohammadi, et al. "Berberine promotes immunological outcomes and decreases neuroinflammation in the experimental model of multiple sclerosis through the expansion of Treg and Th2 cells." - Wiley Online Library, January 2023, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/iid3.766
​
​
Warowicka, Alicja, et al. “Antiviral Activity of Berberine.” Archives of Virology, Sept. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7320912/
​
Šudomová, Miroslava, et al. “Berberine in Human Oncogenic Herpesvirus Infections and Their Linked Cancers.” Viruses, 28 May 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8229678/
​
Wang, Kening, et al. “Glutamine Supplementation Suppresses Herpes Simplex Virus Reactivation.” The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 30 June 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5490748/
​
Huang, Kaipeng, et al. “Berberine Reduces Fibronectin Expression by Suppressing the S1P-S1P2 Receptor Pathway in Experimental Diabetic Nephropathy Models.” PLOS ONE, journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0043874
​
Ciszewski, Lu-Nguyen, Slater, et al. “G-Quadruplex Ligands Mediate Downregulation of DUX4 Expression.” Nucleic Acids Research, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32182342/
​
Ma, Shu-Rong, et al. “Berberine Treats Atherosclerosis via a Vitamine-like Effect down-Regulating Choline-TMA-TMAO Production Pathway in Gut Microbiota.” Nature News, 7 July 2022, www.nature.com/articles/s41392-022-01027-6
​
Zheng, Zhihua, et al. “Identification of Berberine as a Potential Therapeutic Strategy for Kidney Clear Cell Carcinoma and COVID-19 Based on Analysis of Large-Scale Datasets.” Frontiers in Immunology, 23 Mar. 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10076552/
​
Gibellini, Lara, et al. “Altered Bioenergetics and Mitochondrial Dysfunction of Monocytes in Patients with Covid-19 Pneumonia.” EMBO Molecular Medicine, 7 Dec. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7645870/
​
Wang, Zhao, et al. "Effect of Taurine on Leucocyte Function" - European Journal of Pharmacology, June 2009, www.researchgate.net/publication/223078816_Effect_of_taurine_on_leucocyte_function
​
Yuhan Zhang, et al. “Berberine for Bone Regeneration: Therapeutic Potential and Molecular Mechanisms.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 29 May 2021, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121004761#:~:text=Berberine%20promotes%20osteogenesis,mineralization%20to%20promote%20bone%20formation
​
Zhu, Xiaofei, et al. “The Mitohormetic Response as Part of the Cytoprotection Mechanism of Berberine - Molecular Medicine.” BioMed Central, 23 Jan. 2020, molmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s10020-020-0136-8
​