Gliotoxin Derivative
Fungal toxins are considered secondary metabolites which may provide selective advantage under particular conditons.
Gliotoxin belongs to the epipolythiodioxopiperazine class of secondary metabolites (=ETPs).
The ETPs are produced by a wide variety of fungi, e.g., Aspergillus spp, Chaetomium spp, Penicillium spp, to mention a few. However, Gliotoxin produced by Aspergillus fumigatus has received wide attention because it is considered a virulence factor for A. fumigatus, as well as being present in the sera of cancer patients with aspergillosis (Sugui et al, 2007; Sugui et al, 2007; Bok et al, 2006).
Gliotoxin has been detected in the lung tissue and sera of mice with invasive aspergillosis and sera of cancer patients (Lewis et al, 2005a). The percentage of Aspergillus isolates from cancer patients produced gliotoxin as follows: fumigatus (93 %), niger (75 %), terreus (25 %) and flavus (4 %). (Lewis et al, 2005b). However, only 18 % of A. fumigatus in European patients produce gliotoxin, while 23 % of A. flavus isolates produced aflatoxin B1 (Kosalec and Pepeljnjak, 2005). The difference between the two reports may result from differences in strains of A. fumigatus in culture media and temperature (Kosalec et al, 2005).
The pathobiology of gliotoxin is multi-faceted (Kwon-Chung and Sugui, 2009). These are: 1) the S-S group in the ring forms adducts with cysteine residues of proteins; 2) The S-S group readily goes through a redox cycle production reactive oxygen species (ROS); 3) gliotoxin is immunosuppressive inhibiting phagocytosis; blocking NF-kB transcription factor, inhibiting proinflammatory response and cytokine production; 4) causes mitochondrial directed apoptosis ; 5) induces PM-mediated inflammation in organ transplant patients treated with corticosteroids.; and 6) the mycotoxin probably inhibits normal neutrophil functions in healthy subjects.
Finally, it was believed that gliotoxin was produced by the yeast Candida albicans. However, this observation has recently been questioned (Kupfahl et al 2007).
In conclusion, several species of Aspergillus and other fungi, as well as possibly yeast, produced gliotoxin both in vitro and in vivo. More attention should be paid to this mycotoxin because of its multi-faceted toxic properties.
What is Aspergillus?
Aspergillus spreads in the environment by releasing conidia which are capable of infiltrating the small alveolar airways of individuals.
In order to evade the body’s defenses Aspergillus releases Gliotoxin to inhibit the immune system (=prevent the immune system from reacting).
- Gliotoxin impairs the activation of T-cells. T-Cells are immune cells that protect the body from pathogens.
- Gliotoxin also induces apoptosis (=a form of programmed cell death) in monocytes (=a type of white blood cell) and in monocyte-derived dendritic cells (=T-cell helpers).
These impairments can lead to multiple neurological syndromes.
What is Invasive Aspergillosis?
Aspergillus fumigatus is responsible for a life-threatening systemic disease called “invasive aspergillosis” (IA) in immunocompromised individuals where mold actually grows inside the lungs but can invade other areas as well. Insufficient immune defense mechanisms result in high IA mortality rates in neutropenic (low white blood cell count) and immunosuppressed patients.
Connection to Multiple Sclerosis:
Recent research has implicated the mold produced immunosuppressive Gliotoxin as a likely cause of Multiple Sclerosis in people that have a genetic disposition for MS. The frequency of MS has been increasing. [L]
What is the standard treatment for mycotoxins in humans?
1. There is not a generally accepted “standard treatment.” There are many protocols developed by individual doctors who specialize in mold and mycotoxin associated illnesses. These include FIR Sauna, Glutathione, use of sequestering agents such as Cholestyramine or charcoal, antioxidants, probiotics, and intra-nasal anti-fungal treatments.
2. It is important to note that avoidance is the most important criteria. Leave the dwelling where you are being exposed until it is inspected by an Environmental Inspector and if necessary, remediated.
References:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19843884
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17030582
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20645385
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15817772
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2729542/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8777967
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8666939
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17626149
https://www.clinicaltherapeutics.com/article/S0149-2918(18)30189-9/pdf
https://globaljournals.org/GJMR_Volume14/1-Family-of-Six-their-Health.pdf
What does it mean if your Gliotoxin Derivative result is too high?
Aspergillus fumigatus produces the immunosuppressive agent Gliotoxin. Gliotoxin is a well studied mold toxin and has long been fingered as the main chemical player contributing to the virulence of A. fumigatus.
Gliotoxin is hypothesized to be an important virulence factor in Aspergillus fumigatus. Experiments have demonstrated that gliotoxin is isolated in the highest concentrations from Aspergillus fumigatus in comparison to other Aspergillus species. This species of fungi is the most common cause of aspergillosis in humans. Gliotoxin is also the only toxin that has been isolated from the sera of patients suffering from invasive aspergillosis. These results suggest a link between gliotoxin secretion and fungal pathogenicity.
Exposure to fungal species that secrete gliotoxin is common because airborne Aspergillus fungal spores are ubiquitous in many environments. Regular environmental exposure does not typically cause illness, but can cause serious infections in immunosuppressed individuals or those suffering from chronic respiratory illnesses. Infections caused by Aspergillus fungus are called aspergillosis. There are many types of aspergillosis, but infections typically affect the lungs or the sinuses.
While not enough data exists to definitively tie chronic gliotoxin exposure to the development of cancer, chronic exposure to other immunosuppressive agents has been linked to the development of lymphomas and mammary tumors. Individuals taking immunosuppressive medications or with previous or current exposure to chemotherapy radiation are at higher risk for the development of these tumors.
The treatment approach should include:
- Educational counseling regarding environmental control and incitant avoidance.
- Neutralization antigen therapy for molds and mycotoxins for increased tolerance and effective mycotoxin detoxification.
- Intravenous and oral supplement nutrition therapy.
- Immunotherapy
- Deep heat depuration therapy (sauna detoxification).
How to inspect one's environment?
Molds and mycotoxins have been increasingly associated with illnesses due to faulty construction, water leaks, floods, and other forms of moisture accumulation that allow them to grow indoors. Visual and odor inspections, as well as spore counts and culture plates, can be used to determine the level of contamination in a building.
All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results Easily
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
Laboratories
Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place
We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.
Pricing Table
Gather Your Lab History — and Finally Make Sense of It
Finally, Your Lab Results Organized and Clear
Personal plans
$79/ year
Advanced Plan
Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 5 reports entered for you
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
$250/ once
Unlimited Account
Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 10 reports entered for you
- No subscriptions. No extra fees.
$45/ month
Pro Monthly
Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track lab results for multiple clients
- Customize reference ranges per client
- Export lab histories and reports
- Begin with first report entered by us
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
About membership
What's included in a Healthmatters membership
Import Lab Results from Any Source
See Your Health Timeline
Understand What Your Results Mean
Visualize Your Results
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story
Once your results are in one place, see the bigger picture — track trends over time, compare data side by side, export your full history, and share securely with anyone you trust.
Bring all your results together to compare, track progress, export your history, and share securely.
What Healthmatters Members Are Saying
Frequently asked questions
Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
- Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
- Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.
With a Healthmatters account, you can:
- Upload lab reports from any lab
- View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
- Track trends and monitor changes over time
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export and share your full lab history
- Access your results anytime, from any device
Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 10000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
- The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
- GI-MAP,
- The NutrEval FMV®,
- The ION Profile,
- Amino Acids Profile,
- Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
- Organic Acids Test,
- Organix Comprehensive Profile,
- Toxic Metals,
- Complete Blood Count (CBC),
- Metabolic panel,
- Thyroid panel,
- Lipid Panel,
- Urinalysis,
- And many, many more.
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.