Nicotine, Anti-Inflammatory H1N1 Cure

With the recent global outbreak of H1N1, there have been many theories for different vaccines to cure H1N1. Lucky for us some of those theories have been approved by medical researchers and the FDA and vaccines have been produced to cure the people who are affected with the disease. Ironically, there is another theory that you all may find controversial, which I find interesting to blog about and read your comments.

Doing some research on Anti-Inflammatory drugs/remedies using the world wide web, I came across this article stating that Nicotine from tobacco has an anti-inflammatory affect via the vagus nerve which can block a variety of cytokines of the H1N1 virus. Last week in discussion, we talked about the "risk/benefit" theory, where taking an Anti-Inflammatory drug can initially be beneficial, but if that drug is overused, the risk is damage to the GI tract, liver, and can raise blood pressure.

In regards to this article, the "risk/benefit" theory can be applied as well. The article does mentioned that smoking is very toxic to the body, but the nicotine in tobacco can act as an anti-inflammatory and as long as nicotine is present in tobacco, the degenerative effects from inflammatory diseases will be moderately controlled.

Nicotine stimulates the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. At the end of this pathway are immune cells that produce anti-inflammatory cytokines that block inflammation. Thus, nicotine, although one of the most addictive chemicals, can have beneficial effects on inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, asthma, cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases and perhaps, H1N1.

Tobacco Smoke Is Toxic but also Anti-Inflammatory
Paradoxically tobacco smoke contains hundreds of toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that produce inflammatory reactions and numerous degenerative diseases, but it also contains nicotine that is anti-inflammatory. Smokers assault their bodies, but moderate and obscure the inflammatory degeneration and disease, until they stop the nicotine exposure.

Nicotine Withdrawal Is Inflammatory
The anti-inflammatory benefits of nicotine reveal the inflammatory basis of many unexpected diseases. Nicotine withdrawal is severe, partly because it leads to rebound release of inflammatory cytokines, inflammation and inflammatory disease symptoms that include depression and obesity. Smoking cessation may contribute to more severe symptoms of H1N1 infections.

Nicotine Acts via the Vagus Nerve
Attempts to augment bypass surgery for weight reduction have encountered the anti-inflammatory benefits of stimulating the vagus nerve. Vagus nerve stimulation via an electrode attached to the left branch in the neck by a device implanted behind the clavicle, reduces inflammatory cytokine production and is an effective treatment for obesity. Other types of vagus stimulation are being tested for efficacy in treatment of numerous inflammatory diseases, including arthritis, allergy, asthma, Alzheimer’s, etc.

Nicotine Blocks Cytokine Storms
Cytokine storms are a deadly consequence of inflammation that is out of control. These exaggerated host responses are targets for bioterrorism, because it takes very little toxin or a very minimal infection to be lethal, if it produces a cytokine storm. In mice, the ricin toxin, a bioterrorism agent, induces a cytokine storm that kills by multiple organ failure. Ricin-treated mice can be protected by nicotine prior or after the cytokine storm begins.Read more: http://diseases-viruses.suite101.com/article.cfm/nicotine_antiinflammatory_h1n1_cure#ixzz0YMYaYMWp

In my opinion from a person who does not smoke, I think when it comes to using tobacco whether it be from cigarettes or chewing to receive a source of nicotine to fight inflammation, the risks of smoking to receive a source of nicotine out weigh the benefits. Smoking can cause lung cancer, throat cancer, severely raise a person's blood pressure, effect a person's physical appearance, and can become addicting to where a person can't go through a day without having a smoke. There are other ways to fight inflammation that are less harmful to a person than using nicotine and I believe a person who smokes to fight inflammation should reconsider and look at other healthier treatments like changing their diet, exercising, etc.

Mabley JG, Pacher P, Szabo C. Activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway reduces ricin-induced mortality and organ failure in mice. Mol Med. 2009 Feb 11. [Epub ahead of print]
Gwilt CR, Donnelly LE, Rogers DF. The non-neuronal cholinergic system in the airways: an unappreciated regulatory role in pulmonary inflammation? Pharmacol Ther. 2007 Aug;115(2):208-22.
Johnston GR, Webster NR. Cytokines and the immunomodulatory function of the vagus nerve. Br J Anaesth. 2009 Apr;102(4):453-62.Read more: http://diseases-viruses.suite101.com/article.cfm/nicotine_antiinflammatory_h1n1_cure#ixzz0YMchF3PY