Purified Polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC) Increases Host Defenses and Boosts the Immune System*

Did you know that highly purified polyenlyl-phosphatidylcholine (PPC) (PhosChol) plays an important role in your body’s immune system?

Many health minded individuals and proponents of good nutrition and dietary supplements are familiar with the use of PPC in liver health, brain health, and cardiovascular health, among others.  And, it is fairly well known amongst “Functional and Complimentary” healthcare practitioners that highly purified PC has been used as a registered drug to treat liver and cardiovascular diseases since the 1950’s.  Thousands of studies dating back to the 1950’s, as well as more recent clinical studies continue to demonstrate just how important and powerful PPC is to improving health and wellness.

However, despite all the extensive research available on PPC and a patent issued for its use in the “PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF MICROBIAL INFECTION BY PHOSPHOGLYCERIDES”, (Vitale, Joseph J. Pat. No: 5,135,922) the public remains unaware of this multifaceted and powerful immune boosting agent. *[1]

Below are just a few examples to demonstrate the depth and breadth of the holistic benefits of PPC administration and how it structurally and functionally works to improve your health. * [2]

• PPC is a high energy structural and functional element of all biological membranes (e.g. of cells, blood corpuscles, lipoproteins, and surfactants
• PPC is indispensable for cellular differentiation, proliferation, repair, and regeneration
• PPC is important for the transport of molecules (nutrients and metabolic by products) through cell membranes
• PPC controls membrane-dependent metabolic processes between the intracellular and intercellular space
• PPC maintains and promotes the activity and activation of membrane-bound proteins such as of enzymes (e.g. Na+-K+-ATPase, lipoprotein lipase) and of receptors (e.g. of insulin)
• PPC contains polyunsaturated fatty acids to be used on request as precursors of cytoprotective prostaglandins and of other eicosanoids
• PPC contains choline to be used on request in certain neurological processes such as for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
• PPC is a source of second messengers in cell signaling (e.g. of diacylglycerol)
• PPC contains phosphate e.g. for ATP formation
• PPC participates in fat emulsification in the GI-tract and in the bile
• PPC codetermine erythrocyte and platelet aggregation
• PPC restores depleted S-adenosylmethionine levels to normal and increases glutathione production in the liver
• PPC influences immunological reactions on the cellular level

The Role of PPC in the Immune System: *

The body has several ways in which to defend itself against infectious agents or pathogens. There are components of our bodily defenses that are not part of the Immune System such as our skin, which acts as an external barrier to pathogens.  And there are internal barriers such as the mucous barriers that are found in our pulmonary and gastrointestinal systems.

Additionally, there are cells within our circulatory system that also defend against infectious agents and may be divided in to immune and non-immune cells depending on their origin. Nonetheless, both types may interact in a synergistic manner to “kill” or destroy the infectious agent or the infected cell.

One cell type that Purified Polyenyl-phosphatidylcholine has been shown to activate, or to enhance its “killing” ability is the Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte, a non-immune cell type. These cells are critical component of our “Innate” defense systems. They play an important role in defending against and succumbing to opportunistic infections to which individuals with suppressed and/or altered immune functions weakened by age, malnutrition, illness or by drugs being used to treat other various illnesses may be susceptible.  [1]

Opportunistic infections are those caused by infectious pathogens (e.g., fungal, bacterial or viral) that are more likely to occur in those who may be chronically ill, or who are on medications that suppress their host defenses or immune responses. Host defenses include the skin, mucous membranes of our mouth, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract as well as certain cells circulating in our blood stream including polymorphonuclear leukocytes or PMNS. [1]

As earlier stated, Purified Polyenyl-phosphatidylcholine has been shown to “activate” certain cells of the immune system including those that can produce antibodies and others (Natural Killer (NK) Cells) that can “kill” infected cells (NK Cell Activity). [1]

According to Vitale, PPC is the preferred phosphoglyceride for activating positive immunological responses and what makes it an effective therapeutic and prophylactic agent for bacterial, yeast protistan and viral infections. [1]

Liver Immunobiology and the Importance of PPC in Liver Health and Function. *

Experimental and clinical results support the assumption that the therapeutic application of PPC has protective and even curative and regenerative effects on the biological membranes of sinus endothelial cells and liver cells.

The hepatoprotective effects of PPC have been confirmed when compared to controls and were more pronounced the earlier EPL was administered: [2]

• Structures of liver cell membranes were normal or largely normalized
• Fatty infiltrations and hepatocyte necrosis were diminished or eliminated
• Positive corresponding data were found for lipid peroxidation, transaminase and cholinesterase activity, and for serum lipids; and overall liver cell metabolism increased
• The increase of RNA and protein synthesis and of the liver cell glycogen content indicated a stimulation of the liver cells
• Reduced collagen production, collagen/DNA ratio and liver hydroxyproline indicated a reduced formation of connective tissue

Liver Involvement in Adaptive Immunity

The liver is responsible for several important functions in innate and adaptive immunity. Contributions to the innate immune system include production of acute phase proteins, nonspecific phagocytosis of particles, nonspecific pinocytosis of molecules, and nonspecific cell killing. Hepatic involvement in innate immunity contributes to the systemic response to local inflammation, clearance of particles and soluble molecules from the circulation, and killing of invading cells such as neoplastic cells. Liver involvement in the adaptive (specific) immune system includes deletion of activated T cells, induction of tolerance to ingested and self-antigens, extrathymic proliferation of T cells, and deletion of many of the signaling and effector molecules. Hepatic involvement in adaptive immunity allows clearance of activated T cells and signaling molecules following inflammatory reactions and promotes immunologic tolerance toward potentially antigenic proteins that are absorbed from the intestinal tract. The liver is a major site of extrathymic T cell development, which assumes increasing significance with aging in mammals. Perturbations in hepatic structure or function can result in significant ramifications in both the innate and adaptive immune systems. [3]

In addition to serving as an arena for several immune-mediated pathologic processes, the normal liver has continual direct involvement in adaptive immune system.  Major facets of this involvement            consist of the:

1. Deletion of activated T cells that originate from inflammatory reactions at any site in the body
2. Induction of tolerance to ingested and self-antigens
3. Extrathymic proliferation of T lymphocytes
4. Disposal of waste molecules that result from immunologically mediated events. The major cellular elements involved in these processes include dendritic cells, macrophages, and various subpopulations of T lymphocytes. [3]

PPC Is Critical to Life and Optimal Wellness*

PPC is a powerful holistic molecule with many benefits, including improved immune function.  Clinical trials and experimental studies have demonstrated conclusively that PPC as a membrane therapeutic effectively liver cell metabolism and alters the lipid composition of certain immune cells, resulting in enhanced host defenses (phagocytosis and NK cell activity).

The discovery that the administration of PPC leads to a series of complex mechanisms triggering NK Activity and the enhancement of phagocytosis and “killing” by PNMs is significant.  This discovery has led researchers to conclude that “clearly the dramatic effect of PPC on the clinical course and outcome of both bacterial and viral infections empirically demonstrates the use and value of PPC and related molecules as effective therapeutic and prophylactic agents for bacterial, yeast protist and viral infections. “ [1]

References:

1. Joseph J. Vitale, Prevention and Treatment of Microbial Infection by Phophoglycerides, US Patent: 5,135,922, 1992
2. Karl J. Gundermann, The Essential Phospholipids As A Membrane Therapeutic, Polish Section of European Society of Biochemical Pharmacology, SZCZECIN, 1993
3. George A. Parker and Catherine A. Picut – Liver Immunobiology, USA Toxicologic Pathology, 33:52–62, 2005

The Information Contained Herein is for educational purposes only.  These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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