Bone
and Joint Disease
Overview
Arthritis is a degenerative condition involving degeneration of the
joints and connective tissue throughout the body marked by pain and
swelling.
Synovial membranes (connective tissue) thickens and joints swell with
redness and are tender.
There are numerous regulatory and growth factors present in Colostrum
which offer anti-inflammatory protection. This protection may be in
part due to the rapid elimination and/or neutralisation of microbial
pathogens by defense agents in colostrum.
Anti-inflammatory agents in colostrum are Lactoferrin, Proline-rich
Polypeptide (PRP) and Lysozyme and growth factors : TGF-B and IGF-1.
Lactoferrin - modulates cytokine release and its receptors have been
found on immune cells including lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages
and platelets.
Proline - rich Polypeptide (PRP) - a hormone that regulates the thymus
gland, stimulating an under active immune system or down regulating
an over active immune system as seen, for example, with Rheumatoid
Arthritis and Scleroderma. PRP appears to act on T-cell precursors
to produce helper T-cells and suppressor cells.
Lysozyme - a hydrolysing agent and immune system booster capable of
destroying bacterial and viral pathogens on contact.
The above factors have an antimicrobial activity as well.
Colostrum forces the differentiation of certain cells so that rapid
onset, severe and extended inflammation do not occur.
TGF-B - has an immunosuppressive effect on cytoxic substances (anti-inflammatory)
IGF-1 - bovine IgF-1 is identical to Human IgF-1.This factor stimulates
both muscle and bone growth and repair.
TNF-alpha and IL-6 are two pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in
host defence. Under normal conditions the production of these cytokines
is important as a first line of defense.
However, overproduction of inflammatory cytokines can be detrimental.
Chronic inflammatory diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing
Spondylitis and multiple sclerosis are often associated with the overproduction
of cytokines and can be prevented by blocking the production of pro-inflammatory
cytokines like : TNF-alpha , IL-6 and IL-1.
A study done with bovine Colostrum- at the University of Otago in
New Zealand demonstrated that Colostrum may have an immunomodulatory
effect by blocking these cytokines.
A further Clinical pilot study is currently in progress by NZDG within
a Rheumatology Centre for the evaluation of Colostrum in the reduction
of symptoms associated with both Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing
Spondylitis.
Anti-inflammatory activity
In the "tight junction" assay, the degree of leakiness is
measured in a monolayer of epithelial kidney cells. A normal characteristic
of epithelium, like the intestine or kidney, is that they form a tight
barrier, but this barrier function is sometimes compromised making
the epithelium leaky. This is a model for what happens in inflammation.
In the assay, transepithelial electrical resistance is measured. Negative
values are indicators of significant protective activity. The higher
the negative reading-the higher is the anti-inflammatory activity.
In this Study the Control gave a reading of +35 which clearly shows
no anti-inflammatory activity. Colostrum gave a reading of - 5 which
demonstrates an anti-inflammatory action.
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