Summary of the content:
1. What Is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome?
2. Behind The Scenes: Getting To The Bottom Of MCAS
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When a subset of a system goes rogue, it is crucial to ask: What are the system’s failures, and why is the subset signaling these issues?
In the case of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), conventional treatments often focus on the “rogue” subset (mast cells) or its tool of disruption (histamine). However, this approach can overlook the systemic imbalances that drive the condition, and may inadvertently deplete essential components (mast cells and histamine) necessary for the system’s overall function.
In what follows, a systemic perspective on MCAS will be put forward, with a particular emphasis on the immune system and the pivotal role of inflammation in this multisystem disorder. We will then highlight micro-immunotherapy as a fundamental tool that facilitates profound and lasting change, rather than temporary improvements in patients with MCAS.
What Is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome?
MCAS, short for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, is a medical condition affecting 17% of the world population in which, unlike mastocytosis, there is a normal amount of mast cells but they are hyperreactive.
It is a multifaceted, multisystem disease with often unexplained symptoms that vary from patient to patient. Manifestations of MCAS include tachychardia, fainting, urticaria, hot flushes, nausea, vomiting or brain fog. These symptoms are linked to a state of hyperinflammation caused by a cytokine storm in response to certain stressors, and are indicative of an immune system that is unable to respond appropriately and efficiently to challenges. As a consequence, histamine is released in excess, constituting the effect rather than the cause of the disease.
Although the exact aetiology of MCAS is still unclear, a set of triggers are known to contribute to the inflammatory cocktail at the root of the disease. Among them are:
– Chronic stress
– Trauma
– Sleep disorders.
– Diet
– Micronutrient deficiencies
– Chronic infections
– Medication
– Toxins
– Heavy metals
– Dental foci
– Chronic pain
– Hormonal imbalances
– Mitochondrial dysfunction
Behind The Scenes: Getting To The Bottom Of MCAS
Is Histamine The Real Problem?
In the treatment of MCAS, the focus often falls on reducing histamine through the use of antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers. However, this approach is oversimplifying. Histamine is a naturally occurring compound in the body, playing a crucial role as both a neurotransmitter and a tissue hormone. The problem in MCAS lies less with histamine itself and more with the conditions leading to its excessive release and insufficient degradation. These conditions are typically rooted in inflammatory and metabolic imbalances, with a disrupted intestinal barrier, or “leaky gut,” often found at the center of these disorders.
The gut houses a significant portion of the immune system, making it a critical site for immune responses. A compromised gut lining can provoke chronic inflammation, which subsequently feeds into the cycle of mast cell dysfunction. Therefore, restoring gut integrity and addressing the systemic inflammation it causes are primary targets in managing MCAS effectively.
Chronic inflammation not only contributes to immune dysregulation but also impacts cellular function by affecting mitochondria—the powerhouses of the cell. Mitochondrial dysfunction is both a by-product and a driver of inflammation. When mitochondria are impaired, there is a decrease in ATP production, which is the main energy currency of the cell. This energy shortfall leads to cellular stress and exacerbates inflammatory responses, creating a vicious cycle.
Restoring The System in MCAS
Restoring homeostasis in MCAS requires deep-rooted interventions aimed at rebalancing the immune system through treatment plans adapted to each individual. In this context, addressing intestinal inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction are key targets to help the system recover balance and efficiency.
Nutritional interventions based on a low-histamine diet and medication aimed at blocking this mediator are frequently insufficient, if not counterproductive, to solve the problem. The key rather lies in providing the organism with the pieces of information necessary to regain an effective communication between its immune components. This is where micro-immunotherapy offers a subtle tool for immune regulation. Instead of addressing a single cell or substance, it communicates with the body through sequential compositions of cytokines administered in low doses. This way, the microenvironment of cytokines determining the immune response is mimicked in its complexity and influenced upon through endogenous, well-tolerated signals.
Micro-immunotherapy To Gently Retrain Immunity in MCAS
While a combination of nutritional interventions (e.g. low histamine diet, prebiotics, probiotics), medication (e.g. antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers) and prevention of triggers may help MCAS patients to some extent, it does not tackle the root of the disorder. Adding micro-immunotherapy to the therapeutic plan can bring a long-lasting, regulating effect on the immune system. Well-tolerated and easy to take sublingually, this low-dose immunotherapy can be used in MCAS with the following objectives depending on the constellation of each patient:
Regulate intestinal inflammation:
By modulating the immune response within the gut, micro-immunotherapy can help repair the intestinal barrier. By dampening inflammation in a physiological manner, it prepares the ground necessary for the efficacy of other interventions such as administration of prebiotics/probiotics or dietary changes.
Restore mitochondrial function:
Enhancing mitochondrial health is crucial in breaking the cycle of inflammation and restoring energy production. By regulating the pathways leading to excessive ROS production, micro-immunotherapy contributes to improved cellular function, reduced oxidative stress, and sustained energy levels.
Counteract allergic-like responses:
Micro-immunotherapy can modulate the immune system to reduce the sensitivity and overreaction to allergens and other triggers, thus decreasing the frequency and severity of allergic-like symptoms.