Thanks for posting, Jen. That is a great testimonial and really helps to pull things together.

The study of lectins explains sooooo much. (http://www.krispin.com/lectin.html). Once we see that these harmful glycoproteins (especially those from gluten, dairy, soy and corn) can cause tissue damage/inflammation ALL BY THEMSELVES, without an immune response, then things start really making sense. We can then see that the immmune response is secondary to that damage, which helps to explain why we see such a variation in the measurable response by different individuals. Some will respond with an outpouring of antibodies yielding positive tests while others will not, explaining negative tests in individuals who end up responding well to the elimination diet when they go ahead and do it anyway in the face of those negative tests.

These dietary glycoproteins are also a big part of what we love to call "autoimmune disease". Personally, I do like nor do I use that term anymore unless I put it in quotes. That term implies that the immune system is attacking it's own body's tissues for no good reason. I contend that this does not happen...ever. The immune system always responds appropriately and we simply do not fully understand why it does what it does some times, with the inflammation being incited by lectins being the prime example.

Lectins are antibody-sized proteins/glycoproteins. That makes them really tiny. How would we know they are there when they are that small? We can't see them in a routine tissue sample. It would take biochemical analysis or, again, antibody tests to determine whether they are involved. Therein lies the rub. Once again, not everyone responds with what we might call an "appropriate" response...one that we can detect readily. We just have to know that these lectins can and do cause changes in the individual cells of the body (from neurons to nephrons to blood cells, etc) of susceptible individuals. I contend that the "big 4" (gluten, dairy , soy and corn) are not GOOD for anyone. They are simply better tolerated by some than others. This is the nature of "spectrum disorders", which range in severity from the best of the best to the worst of the worst. I tell people to think "peanut allergy" when thinking about the worst of the worst. Whoa! Now that's a sensitivity.

So, does gluten affect neurons? Definitely. Can it kill neurons? Yes! Do a search for "gluten, neurons" and you'll find some interesting things. But how it does that is the interesting thing, and the clue is in the link above about lectins. A concurrent study of viruses helps to see the big picture and that is why I write so much about this on my site now.

It is logical that the viruses INSIDE that cell are the things that determine the response of that cell to the challenge by lectins, carcinogens, and other chemicals/pollutants, etc etc. Reading the Lectin Report above, one might ask what determines how a cell decides which of the ten different responses it will manifest once challenged by the lectin (from cell death to tumor formation). I believe the answer lies in the adaptive viruses found inside that cell. That's what viruses do in nature...facilitate adaptation (as well as cause variation in nature).

The cool thing to see is that our very DNA contains these adaptive viruses. They now estimate that up to 45% of the genetic codes in our double stranded DNA is actually viral information. This is what retroviruses, in particular, do...they infect the cell and incorporate their genetic info into our DNA. That is why they are main viruses involved in cancer AND why cancer can be "genetic" (inherited). This info can be transmitted vertically to the offspring.

The other cool thing to see is that cancer itself is an adaptive process. The viruses that "cause" cancer are simply adapting to the challenges (e.g. carcinogens) that we keep throwing at them. When all else fails, they cause the cell they are designed to protect to start growing out of control in order to ensure the survival of that virus and the cell itself. So, I now look at a tumor as a protective cocoon. Radical idea??? Yup. Does it make sense when you understand what viruses do in nature that is good and vital? It does to me.

So, why don't we all have cancer and have it early in our lives. Once again, because there is another part of the "syndrome" that is necessary...a weakened immune system. Yes, we are killing cancer cells right now (hopefully). The immune system recognizes when a cell is trying to do something that it deems inappropriate or harmful and send in the cavalry....hopefully. This could be just what we (incorrectly) label as an "autoimmune response". No, the body DOES know exactly what it is doing each and every time it does something. I believe that down to my socks. We just don't understand what it is doing sometimes, and this is one of those times.

How does this apply to epilepsy and other neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. MS, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS)? Again, as we stated above, some viruses love the central nervous system. The two most common brain tumors in vet medicine are the astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma, both viral and of those cells that control many of the supportive functions of the neuron, including the production of the myelin sheath and the control of neurotransmitter levels (glutamate). If there are viruses in there causing tumors, then through "reverse engineering", we can see that there are going to be the processes (e.g. "autoimmune diseases") that precede the formation of tumors, because these are the means by which the immune system controls the tumor production...until it gets overwhelmed by all that we are throwing at it.

I hope this make sense and helps in some way.

John