BioProThymic Protein A
A key component to Transfer Factor Plus™

Introduction - Basic Immunity

The immune system is a complex network of specialized organs, glands and cells which when working properly protect the body from pathogens such as virus, bacteria, fungus and foreign tissue such as cancer. This system is composed of two basic sub-systems, the Humoral and the Cellular or Cell Mediated. These two sub-systems have different methods of defending the body from disease. The Humoral side uses chemical warfare (antibodies) to defeat invading pathogens. Cell Mediated Immunity employs shock troops (T-cells) to attack and kill invaders. This is the body’s mechanism for immune response to specific virus and cancer.

B-lymphocytes (B-cells) and T-lymphocytes (T-cells) are sub populations of white blood cells and are the soldiers used by the immune system. B-cells are the antibody producers used in Humoral Immunity, and T-cells are the shock troops used in Cell Mediated Immunity. They are all born in the bone marrow, but they mature differently. B-cells mature in the bone marrow, hence the B for bone marrow. T-cells are matured by proteins produced by the thymus gland, hence the T for thymus.

Both sides of the Immune System must function properly in order for the body to have an optimum Immune Response to invading pathogens. In fact, B-cells will react quicker, proliferate, expand clonally and produce an antibody response more efficiently in the presence of a T-cell response. So it could be said that T-cells divide B-cells to an extent.

Central to beginning the immune response is activation of the T-4 lymphocyte (helper cell). Activation takes place when the T-4 cell recognizes the antigen displayed by an invading pathogen. Once activated the T-4 cell produces Interleukin and Interferon proteins also called lymphokines or cytokines, but more simply defined as immune proteins. These immune proteins in turn activate or program T-8 lymphocytes (killer cells). When the killer cell is programmed, it is programmed to find and kill the specific antigen producing pathogen. Additionally, the activated T-4 cell causes B-cells to produce antibodies more efficiently.

However, before the T-4 cell can recognize the antigen, and begin this cascade of events, which keep us healthy, it must first receive its programming from the thymus gland.

THE FUNCTION OF THE THYMUS

The thymus gland is a ductless gland located just beneath the breast bone. It produces proteins or factors, which program T-lymphocytes. This organ has long been known, but its critical function in the immune system was only discovered about 30 years ago. It is only the past 20 years with advances in cellular biology and development of genetic engineering that the vital importance of thymus proteins is beginning to be understood.

Over the past few years, scientists have discovered properties of specific thymic proteins. The research has been conducted over decades by scientists studying cancer, and has accelerated in recent years with the growth in the number of people with AIDS. This area of study is important to AIDS research because the HIV virus infects T-cells, specifically the T-4 cell.

A number of factors affect normal thymic function. The most common factor is age. Just through the aging process, normal thymus function diminishes beginning at birth, and normally by age 40 to 45, a person has little or no active thymus protein production left. Other known factors which will accelerate thymus atrophy are exposure to radiation, chemicals, chronic disease or trauma. Perhaps most importantly, common viral infections such as Chicken Pox, Measles or Epstein-Barr virus which otherwise may have little or no clinical manifestation may in fact impair thymic activity to such an extent as to make a person more likely to develop cancer.

HIV also affects the thymus gland. Production of thymic protein is drastically reduced within weeks of an HIV infection thereby inhibiting the T-4 cells from starting the immune response. Untreated, HIV infection will result in suppression of immune response to even the most common pathogen. Immune suppression can be recognized by other manifestations as well.

IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION and SUPPRESSION

There are some sixty-five million Americans who suffer from a dysfunctioning immune system. Among the manifestations of this disorder are a variety of diseases:

A. Autoimmune disease such as arthritis, asthma, allergy, lupus, diabetes, and chronic respiratory problems are caused by immune dysfunction.

B. Chronic viral infection, chronic fatigue, Epstein-Barr virus, AIDS, and cancer may also result from immune suppression.

The Immune System is so complex in its relationships to organs, glands and cells, immune dysfunction and suppression can have a number of different causes. The thymus gland plays such a pivotal and important role in generating and regulating immune response, a deficiency of the thymus by aging, disease, radiation, chemicals, chronic disease, or trauma, etc., will cause immune dysfunction and /or suppression to occur. Physicians have always treated deficiencies involving the thyroid gland, the pancreas, adrenal gland, etc. with physiologic replacements. Indeed the theory has been, "If a gland dries up, replace it". So, why not replace thymus proteins when the thymus gland dries up?

A CASE FOR REPLACEMENTS

Extracts of thymus generally consist of whole thymus gland, which is ground and dried or strained into liquid and administered in capsules or in sublingual drops.

By the very nature of how these extracts are processed, the resultant Product is a conglomeration of thymus tissue, cell debris, fragments of thymus proteins and thymus by products.

These extracts have been available for years and have shown some small level of effectiveness in treating various immune deficiencies and some specific medical conditions. In fact, one such fragmented thymus protein, Thymosin has been approved as an adjuvant treatment for Hepatitis B in China.

Extracts contain fragmented thymic peptides. They are only slightly effective because they are fragments. To attain full effectiveness, a protein must have specific shape, which has exact transmitter and receptor sites. Only a whole protein molecule would be expected to have full biological activity.

It is therefore logical that since supplying whole thymus in a processed and fragmented form helps people with thymus deficiencies, it would be much more effective to supply a purified whole thymus protein which is biologically active.

PURIFIED THYMUS PROTEIN

An immunologist has patented a technology whereby he can grow thymus cells in a laboratory and from the product of the cell's metabolism, purify a specific thymus protein. It has been proven in laboratory and animal experiments that this specific thymus protein is the protein which causes the T-4 lymphocyte to mature, thereby initiating a specific cell mediated immune response.

This specific protein has been assayed chemically and in animal models for the production of Interleukin 2. Interleukin 2 production by T-4 cells is the benchmark measurement for T-cell maturity and initiation of immune response. The protein is routinely tested in a rat model for the suppression of flu virus, which further demonstrates the initiation of the cascade of events which results in immune response to specific pathogen (Cell Mediated Immune Response).

A trial with 22 cats infected with Feline Immunodefficiency Virus (FIV) concluded that this protein enhances immune response as measured by clinical and laboratory parameters. Immune response is demonstrated by response to infectious agents measured in the blood, diminished disease symptoms, survival, and lymphocyte values.

An experiment published in The Journal of Immunology and Immunopathology in 1984 proved that this protein is conserved among species. The experiment was to transplant human thymus cells, which produce this protein, into renal capsule (kidney) of athymic (nude) mice. Because the mice have no thymus, they have no immunity and must be kept in a sterile environment.

After the transplant, the mice demonstrated immune response outside the sterile environment and did not exhibit any rejection of the transplanted human tissue. This demonstrated that the protein induced cell mediated immunity in the mice and the restored immune system of the mice did not recognize the transplant as foreign.

If the protein from the human tissue "looked" foreign to the mouse immune system, there would be massive immune response to that tissue. The absence of rejection proves that the human thymus protein is identical or so nearly identical to the mouse thymus protein that it is accepted "as self". Being conserved among species is important because ingesting foreign protein can cause an antibody response, and in time cause the foreign protein to have no effect on the immune response.

Biopro Protein -A-

Marketed exclusively by 4 Life Research as ThyRex™

Biopro Protein -A- is the result of 23 years of research. It has proven to be a powerful immune stimulant in extensive laboratory and animal experiments. Through a patented process, it is derived from live cells, then purified and therefore is an intact native molecule which has biological activity and is conserved among species.

Biopro Protein-A- is scientifically proven to be the thymus protein which programs the T-4 Lymphocyte (T-4 helper cell).

By age 40 to 45, most people lack proper thymus function, and therefore they lack complete immune function. You can replace this vital thymus protein by using Biopro Protein-A- everyday.

In fact Biopro Protein-A- was proven as an immune stimulant and viral suppressor in laboratory tests conducted by the National Institutes of Health. No other thymus product or extract has been proven to perform these functions because they are all fragmented or incomplete, while Biopro Protein-A- is the only thymus product which is a whole biomolecule and is conserved among species.

CASE STUDIES

Here are some examples of customer case studies, which serve to illustrate what happens when Cell Mediated Immunity is stimulated by Biopro Protein-A- (BPA). These are examples of people who have cancer and full blown AIDS.

Some were receiving traditional cancer therapy without results, then they added BPA and began achieving results in a short period of time. One of these people (Phil) is using only BPA and no other therapy. These human results are consistent with results from existing lab and animal tests.

REFERENCES:

1. Beardsley, Hays. Gross Murine Leukin Virus induced alterations in the thymus of preleukimic     AKR Mice. American Association of Cancer- Research, Vol. 39 pp. 480-486, February 1979.
2. Beardsley, Hays, etal. Induction of T-cell maturation by a cloned line of thymic epithelium (TEPI),     Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA Vol. 80 pp. 6005-6009, October 1983.
3. Bonyhadi ML et al. "HIV Induces Thymus Depletion In Vivo", Nature,1993 June 24, 363     (6431):728-32.
4. Hays SM et al. – "Thymic Involution in Viable Motheaten Mice", Dev Immunology 1992; 3(3):     191-  205
5. Hays, Beardsley. Immunologic Effects of Human Thymic Stromal Grafts and Cell Lines. 1984     Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology 33: 381
6. Beardsley, Swain, and Dutton. Mechanisms of Lymphocyte Activation, (Resch and Kirchner.     Eds.). p.384. Elsiever/North-Holland. Amsterdam, 1981

One Box 30 packets: $59.00

SUMA

Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Pfaffia
Species: paniculata
Common Names: Suma, Brazilian Ginseng, Pfaffia,
Para Toda, Corango-acu
Part Used: Root

DESCRIPTION
Properties/Actions: Anabolic, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antimutagenic, Aphrodisiac, Estrogenic, Hypocholesterolemic, Immunostimulant, Nutritive, Sedative, Steroidal, Tonic
Phytochemicals: Beta-ecdysone, Nortriterpenoid Pfaffic Acids, Sitosterol, Stigmasterol, Iron, Magnesium, Cobalt, Silica, Zinc, Vitamins A, B-1, B-2, E, K, Pantothenic Acid, Germanium, Saponins

Suma is a large, scrambling, shrubby ground vine which has an intricate and deep root system. It is indigenous to the Amazon basin area and other tropical parts of Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay Peru and Venezuela.(1, 2) Since it first botanical recording in 1826, it has been referred to by several botanical names including Pfaffia paniculata, Hebanthe paniculata and Gomphrena paniculata.(3) The genus Pfaffia is well known in Central and South America with over 50 species of Pfaffia growing in the warmer tropical regions of the area.(4)

In South America, Suma is known as Para Toda which means "for all things" and as Brazilian Ginseng since it is widely used as an adaptogen for many things, much like regular ginseng. The Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon region who named it Para Toda, have used the root of Suma for generations for a wide variety of things including a general tonic, energy and rejuvenating tonic as well as a general cure-all for many types of illnesses.5)Suma has been used as a tonic, an aphrodisiac, a calming agent and to treat ulcers for at least 300 years, and is an important herbal remedy in the folk medicine of several indigenous Indian tribes today.(6, 7)

In herbal medicine throughout the world today Suma is considered an adaptogen. The word adaptogen was coined in 1947 by a Russian scientist named N.V. Lazarev. His definition of the word was a medicinal substance fulfilling three criteria: a.) It must cause only minimal disorders in the body's physiological functions; b.) It must increase the body's resistance to adverse influences not by specific action but by a wide range of physical, chemical, and biochemical factors; and c.) It must have an overall normalizing effect, improving all kinds of conditions and aggravating none. Suma, with its wide range of documented uses, certainly meets this criteria. In herbal medicine in Ecuador today, Suma is considered a tonic for the cardiovascular system, the central nervous system, the reproductive system, and the digestive system and is used to treat hormonal disorders, sexual dysfunction and sterility, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, circulatory and digestive disorders, rheumatism, and bronchitis.(8) In European herbal medicine Suma is used as to restore nerve and glandular functions, to balance the endocrine system, to strengthen the immune system, for infertility, menopausal and menstrual symptoms, to minimize the side-effect of birth control medications, for high cholesterol, to neutralize toxins and as a general restorative tonic after illness.(9) In North and South American herbal medicine Suma root is used as an adaptogenic and regenerative tonic regulating many systems of the body, as an immunostimulant, and is used to treat exhaustion resulting from Epstein-Barr disease and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, hypoglycemia, impotency, arthritis, anemia, diabetes, cancer, tumors, mononucleosis, high blood pressure, PMS, menopause and hormonal disorders and many types of stress.(10 - 15) Suma has also been called "The Russian Secret" because it is taken by Russian Olympic athletes to increase muscle-building and endurance without the side effects associated with steroids.(15) This action is attributed to the anabolic agent, beta-ecdysterone as well as three novel ecdysteroid glycosides which are found in high amounts in Suma.(16, 17) Suma is such a rich source of beta-ecdysterone, that it is the subject of a Japanese patent for the extraction methods employed to obtain it from this root.(18) Two other plant hormones found in Suma, sitosterol and stigmasterol, encourage estrogen production and accounts for it's use for menopausal symptoms.(15)

Nutritionally, Suma root contains 19 different amino acids, a large number of electrolytes and trace minerals including iron, magnesium, cobalt, silica, zinc and the vitamins A, B-1, B-2, E, K, and pantothenic acid.(17) The high content of germanium accounts for its properties as an oxygenator at the cellular level. The root of Suma is composed of up to 11% saponins.(19) These saponins include a group of novel chemicals called Pfaffosides as well as Pfaffic acids, glycosides and nortriperpenes. These saponins have clinically demonstrated the ability to inhibit cultured tumor cell melanomas and help to regulate blood sugar levels.(20 - 23) The pfaffosides and pfaffic acid derivatives in Suma have been patented as antitumor compounds in two Japanese patents.(24, 25)

ETHNOBOTANY: WORLDWIDE USES
Brazil Anemia, Arthritis, Asthma, Cancer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Diabetes, Epstein-Barr, High blood pressure, Hypoglycemia, Impotency, Leukemia, Mononucleosis, Tumors
Ecuador Arteriosclerosis, Bronchitis, Circulatory, Diabetes, Digestive Hormonal, Sexual Dysfunction, Sterility, Rheumatism, Tonic
Russia Muscle Growth, Tonic
Japan Cancer, Steroidal, Tumor

Footnotes:

REFERENCED QUOTES ON SUMA

"Suma is called "Brazilian ginseng" because it is a near panacea in Brazil. Although it is not a true ginseng from the Panax plant family; like ginseng, it has both adaptogenic and immune-enhancing properties. Some researchers report that it has the ability to strengthen the immune system and reduce tumors. Other researchers have found that Suma acts primarily as a regulator of the endocrine, nervous, musculoskeletal and digestive systems without stimulatory or inhibitory effects, thus classifying it as a true adaptogen. An important ingredient in Suma is the saponin nortriterpenoid. Six different pfaffic acid sugar compounds have been isolated from nortriterpenoid. Five of these six pfaffic acid derivatives inhibit cultured tumor cell melanomas and some of them have been reported to regulate blood sugar levels. Two plant hormones, sitosterol and stigmasterol, also occur naturally in Suma. They have been reported to encourage estrogen production and reduce high serum cholesterol levels. Beta-ecdysone, another plant steroid isolated from Suma facilitates cellular oxygenation. Nutritional analysis has found that Suma contains 19 different amino acids, a large number of electrolytes and trace minerals including iron, magnesium, cobalt, silica, zinc and the vitamins A, B-1, B-2, E, K, and pantothenic acid. It is especially high in the trace element germanium which is considered an oxygenator and is used as a nutritional supplement for the immune system. Suma is reported to increase chi (energy flow in the body). It has been used as a tonic, an aphrodisiac, a calming agent, and in the treatment of ulcers for at least 300 years."

"Suma has been called "para todo" which means "for all things" by the Brazilians. It is said to be the South American version of ginseng. It contains up to eleven percent saponins. Derivations from saponins have been patented as antitumor compounds. Suma has been used to help many chronic diseases including leukemia, arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, mononucleosis, candida, hypoglycemia, Epstein Barr Syndrome, high cholesterol, and the early stages of cancer. It seems to balance female hormones and is good for menopause. It is also used for impotency and frigidity.

"ACTIONS: Increases energy, Boosts immunity, Inhibits tumors, Regulates blood sugar levels, Balances hormones. TRADITIONAL USE: Suma has been proved to increase oxygen in the system, boosting energy and immunity. In the Amazon it is called "Para Todo' which means "for everything'. Studies conducted by scientists on three continents suggest that unique chemicals present in Suma inhibit tumor cell growth. Research indicates the presence of germanium as one of the active constituents in Suma. Because of this it is an excellent catalyst and increases oxygen at the cellular level. Based on years of clinical experiments, researchers believe Suma is both safe and effective. Suma balances hormones and increases energy by increasing oxygen at the cellular level. MERIDIAN INDICATIONS: Increases Qi, Liver blood tonic, Increases Yang in Lung and Heart meridian, Regulates Triple Warmer, primarily Upper Burner. EVA POINTS: Triple Warmer (endocrine system), Spleen, Liver, Heart

"Suma has properties that combat anemia, fatigue, stress, and diabetes. An immune system booster. In Brazil suma was reported to be more powerful than ginseng, and it is referred to as Brazilian ginseng. Research in Japan found that the suma root contains pfaffic acid, which is capable of inhibiting certain types of cancerous cells. Dr. Takemoto was the first to study suma in Japan.

Article 1: "Suma, called "Brazilian ginseng," strengthens the immune system and reduces tumor formation. Of six pfaffic acid sugar compounds isolated from this plant, five of them were shown to inhibit cultured tumor cell melanomas. The nutrient composition of Suma shows it especially high in the trace element germanium, very important for proper immune system function. Suma is also a cellular oxygenator and contains two plant hormones, sitosterol and stigmasterol, which encourage estrogen production and reduce high serum cholesterol levels. Some patients report an increased resistance to extreme highs or lows in the temperature of their environment from Suma."

Article 2: "Of the more than 200,000 plant species found in the Amazon, many have been found to contain hormone-like compounds that are quite similar to estrogen and testosterone. These plants have been traditionally used to treat women with PMS, menopause and miscarriages, and men with impotence and prostatitis. One of the most effective herbs from the Amazon for female problems is Suma. Suma is called "Brazilian ginseng" because of the wide variety of conditions it is used to treat in Brazil. Researchers report that it acts primarily as a regulator of the endocrine, nervous, musculoskeletal and digestive systems. Suma is classified as a true adaptogen. Adaptogens differ from other herbs in that they can be used safely on a daily basis. Their action is normalizing, as opposed to stimulating or inhibitive. Two plant hormones, sitosterol and stigmasterol, occur naturally in Suma. These two plant hormones are phytoestrogens, plant compounds that mimic some of the properties of estrogen. Another plant compound found in Suma, beta-ecdysone, facilitates cellular oxygenation. Mary Ellen found that by taking a combination of Amazon herbs containing phytoestrogens, her menopausal symptoms stopped quickly. Plants containing phyto-estrogens have been found to be protective against female hormonal-related cancers, including breast cancer, cancer of the cervix, and endometriosis."

Article 3: "Of these eight herbs, Suma (Pfaffia paniculata) is by far the most well-researched. Studies by Okui and Otaka dating back to 1968 revealed that the plant enhanced muscle-building without producing the negative hormonal effects steroids are noted for. By 1976, the Russian scientist V.N. Syrov was convinced that the anabolic agent in Suma was beta-ecdysterone. This gave the Russians the competitive edge in the Olympics, and Suma began to be called "the Russian Secret."

A dosage of 500 mg. of Suma twice a day helped all athletes during any stage of their training, according to a research report by Health Research which studied amateur athletes. Experiment participants first noted a "sense of well-being" within 3-5 days, and a new increased desire to get to their next training session. Weight lifters experienced much less pain during heavy lifts when they took Suma. These researchers recommended 500 mg. for every 40 lbs. of body weight, spread out evenly in two divided doses, for the maximum gain in muscle strength and size. During a 54-day period (almost 8 weeks), the dosage was only taken on days 1-10, 16-25, and days 31-40. Despite the 24 days off the herb, researchers reported that Suma's effects were still felt by the athletes on the off days."

"A number of other herbs have been receiving good reports as strengtheners of the immune system. Among the most prominent of these are chaparral, Pau d'Arco, tang-kuei, hoelen, various Chinese formulas, and the Suma brand of Pfaffia paniculata." "(Pfaffia paniculata). Enhances energy and vitality and shows great promise as a healing agent in chronic disorders believed to result from a lowered immune response."

"AMARANTHACEAE Cockscomb Family, Amaranth Family The herbs, shrubs or vines of the Amaranthaceae, numbering 400 to 500 species in 40 genera, occur in temperate, tropical and subtropical zones in both hemispheres. The family has been classified into two subfamilies based on the structure of the stamens and ovaries. There are many weedy species. Ornamentals are numerous. The edible seeds and young plants of several species have been valued as food in Central, and South America and the Himalayas. Saponins are widespread in the family; cyanogenic compounds are found to a limited extent. More characteristic is a group of nitrogen-containing protoalkaloids (betacyanins and betaxanthines). Some members accumulate nitrate (potentially carcinogenic). The occasional presence of alkaloids has been reported; saponins are widespread in the family.

Pfaffia In the warmer parts of Central and South America this genus comprises approximately 50 mostly shrubby species. One, P. paniculata, is known as Brazilian ginseng. It contains up to 11% of saponins (Howard-Williams, 1977). These are glycosides of nortriterpenes (Nishimoto, 1984; De Oliveira, 1980), derivatives of which have been patented as antitumor compounds (Takemoto, 1972).

REFERENCES
De Oliveira, F., G. Akisue and M. K. Akisue, An. Farm. Chim. Sao Paulo, 20 (1980) 261.
Howard-Williams, C. and J. W. Junk, Arch. Hydrobiol. 79 (1977) 446.
Nishimoto, N., S. Nakai et al., Phytochemistry 23 (1984) 139.
Takemoto, T. and T. Odajima, Jap. Pat. 59 10548 (1972) (C.A. 100:161775e)."