The Effect of a Colostrum Extract of Proline Rich Polypeptides (PRP) on Immune Status in Guinea Pigs and Its Implications on the Potential of PRP in Aging Humans.


No.	Divisions/Titles for Abstract	Details
1	Abstract Title	The Effect of a Colostrum Extract of Proline Rich Polypeptides (PRP) on Immune Status in Guinea Pigs and Its Implications on the Potential of PRP in Aging Humans.
2	Abstract Source	Nutritional Perspectives: Journal of the Council on Nutrition, 32.
3	Abstract Author(s)	Maher, J. H.
4	Article Affiliation	Education and Research BioPharma Scientific.
5	Abstract	Colostrum is the richest natural source of zoonutrients. Proline Rich Polypeptides (PRP) are active immune modulating zoonutrient peptides found in all mammalian colostrum. In particular PRP are thought to modulate thymus function, specifically the T helper 1 / T helper 2 (Th1 / Th2) balance. Th1, modulating cellular immunity, and Th2, modulating humeral immunity, are classified on the basis of the cytokines they produce.To demonstrate the efficacy of PRP in down regulating Th2 dominance an experiment was performed on guinea pigs sensitized to egg protein. Exposure to egg protein resulted in development of acute phase bronchial spastic reaction in 100% of animals, 3 of 6 (50%) of whom died quickly from suffocation. The duration of acute phase and sub-acute phase in the three surviving animals was 14.3 minutes on average. Introduction of PRP prior to egg protein inhalation resulted in death of only 2 animals out 7 (28.6%). Development of acute bronchial spastic reaction on exposure to the antigen was present in 2 (40%) of the 5 surviving animals, but averaged only 16 seconds. None (0%) of the survivors experienced any sub-acute phase reactions. A similar model was employed using histamine as the initiator of bronchial spasm, with similar, though nonfatal symptoms. In this histamine model, pre-treatment with PRP had no effect. This supports the notion that any effectiveness of PRP pre-treatment was not related to an inherent anti-histamine effect. In humans the thymus is very sensitive to stress hormones (cortisol) which promote Th2 dominance, precipitating allergic and autoimmune reactions, while down regulating Th1 immunity, favoring infection and tumor growth proliferation. With aging, Cortisol / DHEA ratios favor cortisol over DHEA, leading to a similar immune imbalance. Furthermore, thymopoiesis is diminished with diminishing growth hormone (GH) secretion, which itself is diminished with aging.This paper presents the ability of PRP from colostrum to modulate thymus / immune function in guinea pigs and the rationale for its use potential in humans as a nutraceutical for modulating immune function, especially in the aged and the distressed.
6	Summary	PRPs provide anti-viral, anti-allergy, and anti-inflammatory functions by stimulating T helper lymphocytes type 1 (Th1) responses to infections and tumors and lowering T helper lymphocytes type 2 in Th2 dominated hypersensitivity related inflammatory conditions. Th1 cells, which modulate cell-mediated immunity, produce the cytokines IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha. Th2 cells, which modulate humoral immunity, or antibody production, produce IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-13. PRPs tend to stimulate Th1 and lower Th2 if these are in imbalance; i.e., PRP modulates Th1/Th2. This is known as the “Th2 to Th1 shift to the left.PRP showed clear anti-allergic activity and inhibited the development of systemic anaphylaxis induced in sensitized guinea pigs by egg albumin.PRPs that can send signals to the thymus to help the immune system regain its proper balance (modulation), in this case apparently down regulating Th2, thereby lessening the generation of allergen-specific IgE-producing B cells and the subsequent activation and degranulation of mast cells upon allergen challenge (ie., allergy).
7	Article Published Date	01/04/2009.
8	Study Type	Invitro.
9	Substances	Colostrum.
10	Diseases	Allergy.
11	Pharmacological Actions	Antiallergic.
12	Link	https://goo.gl/AEgaNP