Posted on 06/06/2009 7:13:38 PM PDT by Steelfish
Natural bleach 'key to healing'
Zebrafish are often used to investigate biological processes
A natural bleach produced by the body appears to play a key role in marshalling the immune system to fight off infection and heal wounds. US scientists, working on zebrafish, which have similar genes to humans, found a burst of hydrogen peroxide is released following a tissue injury.
This seems to be the signal for white blood cells to converge at the site of damage and begin the healing process.
The Nature study may help explain conditions such as asthma. Asthma, obstruction in the lungs and some inflammatory gut diseases have all been linked to high levels of white blood cells.
Although zebrafish would at first appear to have nothing in common with humans, they do have similar genes and are widely used to investigate biological processes.
This study could provide new insight on immune function and the causes of various inflammatory diseases in humans
Dr Leslie Knapp University of Cambridge
The researchers, from Harvard Medical School, inserted into the fish a gene that glows in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.
They discovered that when the tail fins of these fish were injured, a burst of hydrogen peroxide was released from the wound and into the surrounding tissue.
Teams of white blood cells appeared to respond to this chemical signal, arriving at the site of the wound to begin the healing process.
When the researchers blocked the ability to produce hydrogen peroxide, white blood cells failed to respond to the injury.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
“This seems to be the signal for white blood cells to converge at the site of damage and begin the healing process.”
**********************
Seems to me I recall something of this in another article—called “shunting,” I think.
Hydrogen peroxide is also how honey helps to heal wounds.
Thanks for the post. I printed the link.
There are semi-culty groups that have a thing for H2O2 as a medical treatment.
http://www.educate-yourself.org/cancer/benefitsofhydrogenperozide17jul03.shtml
Girl name? Need to make link.
Just a personal researched opinion into emergency care. And some EMS training.
That would be leukemia. Cancer in general is the uncontrolled reproduction of cells anywhere in the body.
The dose makes the poison. The right chemicals at the right time at the right dose is essential to life. The same chemicals at the wrong time or dose can be a poison. This theory was postulated in the 1500’s by Paracelsus.
I can remember the reading about the role of H2O2 and superoxides in the immune system close to three decades ago.
I’m not sure what is new in this study.
Isn’t Hydrogen Peroxide the antiseptic that foams when placed on a wound. I’m guessing the foaming action is just a chemical reaction and not an accumulation of white blood cells-just curious.
This also brings to mind my first wife who I used to nickname “bleachy” after I found out her beautiful blonde hair, which I loved, was really brown.
I’ll take door number two Monty.
All I know is hydrogen peroxide makes dogs vomit. Good to know when you have to get a poison like chocolate out of them.
You’re correct, H2O2 kills cells. As a plastic surgeon I never put H2O2 on an open would, we prefer saline.
My dog loves a dessert of Hershey Kisses after a nice meal of chicken wings.
Hydrogen peroside — great stuff.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.