MMR Vaccine and Autism, 1

Autism, MMR Vaccine, HIV Similarities and Growth Factor Cell Signaling - Part 1, by Barbara Brewitt, Ph.D.

Autism is an epidemic, and its incidence continues to rise exponentially! In Bricktown, NJ, the incidence of autism for the year 2000 was one child for every 149 normal children as reported by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). All of these children received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The incidence of newly diagnosed autism increased sevenfold, from 0.3 per 10,000 persons/year in 1988 to 2.1 per 10,000 persons/year in 1999. The peak incidence was among 3 and 4 year olds. Experts in California point out that it took 25 years between 1969-1999 to have 5,100 persons diagnosed with autism, then only five years to have another 5,100 diagnosed and now only 2.5 years have passed and we have another 5,100 cases. Autism cases are rising such that 6 new children are being diagnosed every day of the week!

There is a huge and hot debate in England, Ireland, the United States and other parts of the world over the potential correlation between having received the MMR vaccine and the onset of autism. Two separate scientific epidemiological studies highlight the issue. First, the University of Birmingham, England did a survey of 300 mothers’ intention to vaccinate their children based on psychological variables, socioeconomic variables and knowledge of vaccines. People were divided into two groups those approaching a first MMR vaccination and those approaching the second MMR booster vaccine. Few mothers planned the second booster, most citing general malaise of their child and 30% cited autism as the reason for not giving the 2^nd MMR booster. The second study was completed in Wales on 628 people (239 practice nurses, 206 doctors and 148 health visitors) regarding attitudes about the MMR vaccine, especially the 2^nd MMR booster. 48% of the doctors and nurses had reservations of the second dose, 3% totally disagreed with the vaccine. There were 27% of nurse practitioners who associated the MMR vaccine with to be associated with autism and 33% associated it with Crohn’s disease. There are strong impressions that a link between the MMR vaccine and autism exist. However, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that there is not sufficient risk-to-benefit evidence against the mandatory MMR vaccine. Some researchers point out that safety testing and follow-up studies on the MMR vaccine are woefully inadequate and terribly too short.

The cause and successful treatments for autism are unknown. Theories of cause range from environmental toxicity to viral infections, and biochemical imbalances to developmental defects. Similar to the early days of HIV infection, people have come together to form support groups and attempt behavior modification, nutritional and dietary changes, detoxification cleansing and just about anything that might provide some quality of life support. Parents of autistic children are talking to each other, and they all agree that MMR vaccines coincide too closely with the onset of autism to disregard it. This is the time to rethink the MMR vaccine with a beginner’s mind.

Autism is defined as a neuro-biological disorder whereby children do not communicate or respond in the same manner as the general population. Autistic children have developmental delays that impair social interactions, verbal and non-verbal communications, ability to make eye contact, and speech. These children also enter into repetitive and stereotypical patterns of behavior, and appear to have no fear or understanding of societal definitions of danger. They have little ability to identify self from non-self. These children have a low tolerance for frustration, poor comprehension of communications directed toward them, exhibit poor skin color, have sleep disturbances, reveal little awareness of their surroundings and have a low interest level in their interactions with the world outside of themselves. Seizures and other co-existing central nervous system disorders plus intestinal imbalances and hepatic dysfunction are also common.

Autism also is associated with inflammatory bowel disease and enterocolitis. Several studies have shown that compared to normal children, there are statistically significant toxins, abnormalities and inflammation throughout the gastrointestinal tract of autistic children. Last year a small study in Japan demonstrated that the measles virus detected in these intestinal areas was from vaccine strains in 30% of the autistic children tested compared to measles in the general environment. In sharp contrast children with Crohn’s disease were found to have measles virus from the outside environment present in their intestines.

After birth children’s central nervous system and immune system, including intestinal immune protection, are still developing and learning to communicate between each other. These two interrelated systems are unique to survival since each has long term memory. Up to two years of age the brain is highly vulnerable to toxicity and damage because it has higher than normal production of neurons. The neuronal connections to one another are peaked above normal levels during this period. Neurons travel to their correct brain locations to form specific impressions and memories that will be critical for survival later in life. Following two years of age these connections between neurons are appropriately reduced for the next six months as distinct personality and memories form. Likewise, immune system activities are still developing as the complex networks of immature and memory immune cells learn to distinguish ‘self’ from ‘non-self’. During the first two years of life a delicate balance of CD4 (helper) and CD8 (suppressor) cells is forming. Helper cells begin immune reactivity and suppressor cells stop immune reactivity to prevent damage to normal cells of the body (autoimmunity). During early years of life immune cells that contain memory are still locating themselves within the intestinal tract.

Growth factors also called cytokines are the common language of the immune and nervous systems. Growth factors contribute to processes involved with feedback between these systems and contribute to their long-term memory. Many researchers agree that increasing evidence demonstrates that early immune stimulation prevents auto-immunity later in life. As the body is evoked by outside stimulus, growth factors begin to regulate the bi-directional flow of information between cells and systems. Early childhood infections are assumed to hold “protective effects” on the development of such things as asthma and allergic reactions. In fact a study of 262 people in South Africa found that measles infection prevented the development of allergic sensitivities compared to those people who were vaccinated or had not had measles (P=0.01). Furthermore, children in rural settings exposed to farm animals and environmental pathogens specific to the gastrointestinal tract in Israel developed a much stronger adult-like cellular immune system than the children from an economically privileged urban population.

The measles and/or German measles (Rubella) are single stranded RNA viruses from a family called paramyxoviruses. All viruses use the body’s own cells to help the virus reproduce itself, but RNA single stranded retroviruses, like the measles and the HIV virus, require additional enzymes to copy their RNA-based genetic information and insert it into the DNA present in human cells. Once a retrovirus infects the body, the person carries that viral information inside their DNA the rest of their life. The measles is a highly contagious acute viral infection specific to humans only, normally occurring between the ages of 3 and 7 years. Symptoms include fever, respiratory distress, intestinal inflammation , a skin rash, and encephalitis, plus an increased vulnerability to bacterial infections. Measles infections stimulate and suppress different parts of the immune system. Measles contributes to maturation of immune support cells simultaneous with inhibition of cellular immune lymphoctes and immune support cells (antigen presenting cells that stimulate lymphocyte activation) in skin, gut and lungs. Measles also induces growth factor secretion such as granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and other immune maturation and stimulation factors that consequently regulate the immune system during future infections. The over expression of Transforming Growth Factor beta-1 (TGF_B1) stimulates inflammatory and fibrotic tissue formation, plus additional expression of CD46 receptors. Measles blocks lymphocyte cells, like CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes, and possibly other cells in the body from entering the dynamic cell cycle that activates cell division and stages of decision making (transition from G₀ through G₁.) that are normally controlled by Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), EGF and IGF-1. TGF_B1 additionally participates in determining what cells will live, die or specialize.

Measles infection usually resolves itself over1-2 weeks given good sanitation, water quality, and hygiene. Vitamin A therapy, as found in cod liver oil, is a known effective treatment. The viral infection begins in the respiratory tract after being inhaled and then spreads to the local immune system (lymphoid) tissues and skin, kidneys, gastro-intestinal tract, and liver. As with HIV, measles infects cells of the immune system called monocytes (inactivated macrophages and T- and B-lymphocytes). The measles virus can invade, infect, and inflame specific areas of the brain’s central nervous system that cause complications. There are three types of measles-related brain inflammation (encephalitis). First, there is a acute post-infectious inflamed brain that occurs during or shortly after the initial infection and is characterized by inflammation around blood vessels and loss of myelin (the protective covering around neural cells). This type is thought to be due to autoimmune processes. A second form of brain inflammation follows the acute infection and is called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). This type presents itself 1-10 years later as a persistent measles infection with many mutations (like HIV again!) inside the cells of the cerebellum and spinal cord in people with competent, mature, immune systems. SSPE can be fatal because it causes general destruction of brain tissue, leading to progressive dementia, seizures, and chronic neurological disorders affecting coordination.

The final type of measles-related complication in brain inflammation is a progressive infectious one in people without competent immune systems. This form manifests itself 1-6 months following measles infection. Coincidentally, the symptoms of measles in brain appear too similar to autism to ignore. Symptoms including seizures, motor and sensory system deficits, and lethargy (fatigue) are common with the acute or sub-acute progression of this third type of infectious process. The symptoms are a result of brain tissue death caused by unrestricted viral replication, a result of absent or immature, decreased immune function. It is documented that while measles vaccination decreased the first two types of nervous system complication, the third form remains problematic in an increasing population of immune compromised (immature) people including children. The measles infects specific brain areas such as the frontal cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, substantia nigra, locus ceruleus, raphe nuclei, hippocampus, amygdala, septum entrorhinal and cingulate gyrus cortex where neurons have specific receptors CD46 or growth factor receptors.

When the normal CD46 receptor is not available, then measles also enters cells via insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. The CD46 receptor is the door by which the measles virus enters a cell (Just like CD4 receptors allow entry of HIV). It may not be coincidental that the known areas of the brain affected in autism are similar, including the cerebellum, the hippocampus, amygdala, cingulate gyrus, hypothalamus, and the frontal and temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex. The cerebellum is responsible for motor skills and coordination while the hippocampus and cerebral cortex are related to memory and emotions (the limbic system). It is highly significant that the amygdala controls the gastro-intestinal tract as well as processes sensory input especially those related to survival mood-responses such as fear, anger, and aggression. .<

The person is transformed and changed. Many homeopaths and Pacific Rim healers believe that viral infection by the measles and chicken pox are significant ‘rites of passage’ for the person’s survival since new genetic information carried by these viruses strengthens the immune, nervous, and hormonal systems. Scientists also agree with this conclusion, stating it as: “stimulation of the developing immune system can prevent auto-immunity”.. The scientific evidence shows that immune stimulation prevents auto-immune disease by up-regulating growth factors that influence the generation of those cells that are involved in autoimmunity. Autoimmunity is the process by which the immune system attacks cells or particles identified as ‘self’ versus those that are ‘non-self’. Growth factors are small proteins in the body that manage how the signals between the immune, nervous, and hormonal systems are coordinated. If growth factors do not work appropriately, there is aberrant cell-to-cell communication throughout the body and a type of chaos ensues.

Immunization

The logic behind government immunization policies is using vaccines to stimulate the immune system, resulting in (theoretically) the same immunity without any of the symptoms or dangers associated with actually getting the real infection. The immune system’s “memory” then prevents or alters the ability of the virus to infect and replicate in the future. Before widespread immunization, measles was very common during childhood to the point that 90% of the population had been infected by age 20. Measles cases dropped by 99% in the U.S. and Canada after widespread immunization. Only 9,600 cases were reported in the U.S. in 1991. Individuals who are still susceptible include young infants, who lose the protective maternal antibodies they are born with before their own immune systems are fully developed, and people who refuse immunization. Teenagers and young adults who have not received a second immunization are also susceptible.

What can be going on here with MMR vaccine and autism

After rethinking the measles virus, child developmental processes, the live virus MMR vaccine, it is reasonable to conclude a risk exists for children to become autistic after a MMR vaccine. Dr. Andrew Wakefield has reproduced his findings that autistic children have numerous intestinal pathologies statistically different from healthy controls. If the Japanese findings in a small group of autistic children are reproducible that vaccine strains of measles were found in autistic children but not in healthy children or from patients with HIV, lupus or SSPE are reproducible in higher numbers of subjects, then a conclusive decision will be evident. The public would then be able to request removal of the mandatory MMR vaccine from the CDC’s policy. Given that boys mature more slowly than girls, it is no surprise that boys are three to four times at greater risk of developing autism. Not all the autistic children become so from the MMR vaccine. However, parents must consider if the risk outweighs the vaccination benefit and at what age.

Possible treatment approaches using homeopathy. There are homeopathic preparations of the MMR vaccine which appear to stabilize many autistic children available from homeopathic practitioners. There are homeopathic preparations of growth factors, IGF-1, PDGF, TGF_B1, FGF2 and GM-CSF that are also having positive impact on these children.

Part 2 Autism, MMR Vaccine, HIV Similarities and Growth Factor Cell Signaling Barbara Brewitt, Ph.D.
Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, January 2002, pages 70-73.