Spike Proteins, Hyperinflammation and Protecting Your Immune System
Hello, I am Julie Donaldson and I am a clinical nutritionist with functional health training. I specialize in restoring balance in complex, chronic and acute health conditions. I welcome you to peruse other articles that may be of interest to you in your health investigation!
“When you get to finally rest because someone has done the hard work to figure out why you’re sick all the time...life is new and you can start to believe in your ability to be well again. Thank you, Julie.”
Now several years into the COVID story, we are receiving more and more research data on the pesky spike protein that enables the replication and transport of the SARS CoV-2 virus throughout the body. We are witnessing lingering effects of spike proteins in both infected and vaccinated populations. As there is a current dramatic rise in new infections and intense debate about the vaccines, it is important to talk this through in order to support comfortable and individualized decision making. One thing is certain, and that is that everyone needs to support their immune responses to ensure a successful Bell curve with infection, inflammation and resolution. It is now evident that “protection” isn’t assured and may cause long-lasting symptoms, as the infection itself may do as well. Unique, individual immune system evaluation is needed.
CDC SARS CoV-2 positive test results trend
What is a spike protein?
The spike protein enables the SARS-CoV-2 infection by binding to multiple receptors, including the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). ACE2 helps modulate the many activities of a protein called angiotensin II (ANG II) that increases blood pressure and inflammation, increasing damage to blood vessel linings and various tissues in the body.
The spike protein is likely to be involved in long COVID syndromes as well as less well-defined or milder chronic immune stresses. Research results show the persistence of spike proteins over several months in the blood following infection, and for some patients, the plasma levels of this glycoprotein appear to coincide with COVID-19 vaccine administration. (Note that the latest study results appeared in early 2024. We are likely to see the months of lingering spike proteins become years over time in the research. This is already being shown via testing.)
An important question to be asked here is, how do we explain the persistence of the circulating spike proteins over time? Normally, the effectors of the immune system should eliminate them. Why is this not the case?
Coronavirus molecules with spike proteins on surface
Why are lingering spike proteins a problem?
The structure of the vaccine spike protein is very similar to that of the viral spike. As it binds to ACE2 and also has a high affinity for LPS (endotoxins created by pathogens) , it can also be more problematic via the amino acid modifications are made in response to the vaccines’ “instructions” to the body. To state this in simple terms, the body essentially does not know the difference between the viral or the vaccine spike proteins and reacts very much the same way to each, with the exception of affinities and amino acid changes which may cause more long-term issues.
it has been deduced that these two proteins, the viral spike and vaccine spike, have sufficiently strong structural and conformational similarities which impair the neutralizing abilities of the antibodies produced following the administration of the mRNA vaccines. Researchers noted that repeated immunization begins to produce lower and lower effectiveness in the antigen/antibody response. This is why you or someone you know who’s had repeated vaccination continues to have infections as well. The combination of repeated infections and immunizations are compounding the lowering of antibodies.
Let’s look at a few of the problems associated with this:
Spike is also a highly glycosylated protein, which may prevent some antibody/antigen interactions and it mutates readily. "Glycosylated" describes a molecule that has undergone glycosylation, a process where sugar molecules (glycans) are attached to a protein or lipid. This "sugar coating" is impactful in a vast array of biological functions, from transporting molecules to cell recognition, and it increases the diversity and complexity of proteins in the body.
Hyperinflammation (also called cytokine storm) is an overactivation of the innate immune system in conjunction with pyroptosis (inflammatory cell death vs. programmed cell death). This phenomenon can be defined as the death of virus-infected cells via inflammasomes and the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18), with the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which alert macrophages and other innate immunity effectors, such as natural killers (NKs). This process represents the initiation of the normal antiviral immune response. However, the immune escape mechanisms, especially those mediated by the spike protein, or molecular interactions between spike and its receptors (such as ACE2) can disrupt the control of the immune system.
Another mechanism which is related to the hyperinflammation process is immune cell depletion, primarily white blood cells inclusive of lymphocytes.. The virus can directly infect immune cells, leading to their destruction., Additionally, certain cytokines, type-II IFN (also called IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), can induce another phenomenon: PANoptosis.
According to researcher Kanchan Karki and his team, the PANoptosis phenomenon may not only explain the tissue damages observed in some cases of COVID-19 but also participate in lymphopenia. The destruction and reduction of lymphocytes creates vulnerability throughout the entire immune system, from the generation of an antiviral state to the orchestration of innate and adaptive immune responses.
As discussed earlier, repeated immunization with spike proteins leads to immunotolerance vs. effective immunity against the pathogen.
Another clue that has paved the way for greater understanding of more long term complications of infection is that of MDSC’s (myeloid-derived suppressor cells) being present in higher numbers in those with significant viral load. The production of the IL-10 cytokine is a predictive marker of the severity of this pathology. MDSCs (myeloid-derived suppressor cells) are a diverse group of immature myeloid cells that accumulate in people with cancer and chronic inflammatory conditions. They play a critical role in the tumor microenvironment by suppressing the immune system's ability to fight the disease. This proliferation has also been associated with lymphopenia.
The main cytokines associated with cytokine storms during SARS-CoV-2 infection are interleukins IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10 plus IL-8 and IL-17.
Too much IL-4 plus too much CYP24A1 creates degradation of both forms of vitamin D, stored and active. You may find more here on the connectedness of vitamin D, VDRs, antioxidant balances and the myriad of physical processes that require adequate vitamin D, reception and synthesis.The hyperinflammatory trend in the presence of LPS appears to explain persistent spike proteins in the body which create deleterious amyloid formations and neuroinflammatory activities. Also created is an excess of damaged and dead cells in the body with failure to clear this debris. Autophagy requires specific immune and detoxification actions in order to make way for new cells and proper pathway functions.
Senolytics and spike proteins
Senolytics are a potentially powerful tool in repairing oxidative stress and spike protein damage created by viral and immunization immune responses.
Senolytics work by selectively eliminating "senescent cells," which are aging cells that accumulate in the body and contribute to age-related diseases and dysfunction by releasing inflammatory molecules.
Researchers say that senolytic substances can also boost a key protein called Klotho in the body that may protect against aspects of aging and a range of diseases. Their findings, which are published in eBioMedicine demonstrate this in mice and human studies.
Klotho is a protein that plays a crucial role in aging and longevity. It is named after the Greek goddess Clotho, who “spins the thread of life”. It is an enzyme produced mainly in the brain and kidneys in the body that decreases with age.
Protective qualities of Klotho:
Anti-aging effects: Klotho helps protect cells from damage and slows down the aging process.
Regulation of metabolism: Klotho is involved in regulating mineral balance, insulin sensitivity, and glucose metabolism.
Neuroprotection: Klotho protects brain cells from degeneration and reduces the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
Kidney function: Klotho is essential for maintaining healthy kidney function
Summations and solutions
The SARS CoV-2 virus as well the mRNA vaccines developed for the virus produce a high amount of inflammation in the body. The body is designed typically handle this in a Bell curve fashion, but the spike protein component of both, in combination with endotoxins, often prevents this resolution and furthermore causes tissue and immune destruction in the body. Neither getting infected nor being vaccinated is protection enough to assure a successful resolution. Long-term immune stress creates disease, even when low-grade.
Lingering spike protein presence in the body which is detected with a special blood test is needed to determine immune stresses associated with spike proteins. This test also determines antibodies to the virus itself and can be ordered through my lab. Additional testing to witness immune capacity as well as vitamin D levels and synthesis is advised.
In the face of repeat infections, a comprehensive protocol is needed to support the 2 arms of the immune system from the inflammatory cytokine storms that occur during infection. Two critical pieces of that protocol have been discussed here - senolytics and vitamin D. Personalized protocols are important so that the body is not over nor under-stimulated, and this involves the 2 main arms of the system, Th1 and Th2..
Ultimately, everyone needs the support of personalized nutrition and supplementation to maintain good overall holistic health.
Please contact me at Julie@truenaturehealthconsulting.com today to discuss your needs and how we may meet them together. We provide holistic telehealth services.