Niacin/immune system link!

[Nightingale]

Not sure if this is widely known:

"Prostaglandin (PGD2) is the primary cause of the flushing reaction, with serotonin appearing to have a secondary role in this reaction." - Wikipedia

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niacin#Toxicity)

PGD2 "is critical to development of allergic diseases such as asthma. Research carried out in 1989[3] found that PGD2 is the primary mediator of vasodilation (the "niacin flush") after ingestion of niacin (nicotinic acid)." - Wikipedia

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PGD2)


PGD2 reacts with receptor CRTH2

 "The central role played by CRTH2 in mediating these effects suggests that antagonism of this receptor is an attractive approach to the treatment of chronic allergic disease."

http://journals.prous.com/journals/servlet/xmlxsl/pk_journals.xml_summaryn_pr?p_JournalId=3&p_RefId=1246831


Funny enough, the wiki page updated AS I was looking at it with this news: PGD2 is responsible for male pattern baldness
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/03/21/scientists-identify-protein-responsible-for-male-pattern-baldness/



Not sure of all the implications of this but I wanted to share

[Quasar]

Nightingale, we have thought the same. I posted something very similar in the old Naked Scientists Post:

1st PART:

"Hey guys, i think i've found something. I know we have already too many theories, but this one makes a lot of sense:

Today on the news they said they have discovered that prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) is a key factor in male baldness.

One of my symptoms of Pois is that after having an O. i lose a lot of hair, and if i don't O's then my hair remains strong and i don't lose it.

Then i went to wikipedia and learned that PGD2 is related to Asthma and inflammation. And you know what? Another symptom of Pois, at least for me, is that it makes my asthma and my breathing efficiency quite worse.

But not only this. PGD2 is also related to the Niacin Flush. In fact, is what it causes it: "Research carried out in 1989[3] found that PGD2 is the primary mediator of vasodilation (the "niacin flush") after ingestion of niacin (nicotinic acid)."

Maybe the Niacin Flush is helping us, because it uses the PGD2 (in a different way than an O.) before having the O., and then the O. is not so harmful.

Does anyone know if exist a drug that inhibits PGD2?"

2nd PART:

"Thanks a lot lauracostis,

So now we have 2 candidates that inhibit PGD2 release: Diclofenac* and Laropiprant. We may have a third one: Quercetin: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18831918 and i've found 2 more: Luteolin and Aspirin (the last one is not so effective): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18223672

Of the 5 candidates, 3 are drugs an 2 are supps. I suppose the effective dose in the supps is much different than the effective dose in the drugs. In the study, they talk about 1000mg (1 kg)of quercetin or luteolin per human. That is a lot, and would be very expensive.

I've also found this thread where they talk about it: http://www.hairlosstalk.com/interact/viewtopic.php?f=32&p=672064

They say that Niacin and Laropiprant target PGD2 "DP1" receptor (both in an inverse way), and that a new drug called "Setipripant" is in trials, and it will block PGD2 "DP2" receptor (that is the hair loss one).
But we are here because of Pois, not hair loss, so the "DP1" receptor (the Niacin one) may work well for us.

On the other hand, if we want something to enhance or mimmick  (and not inhibit) Niacin, we should look for something that releases PGD2, and 5-HT (Serotonin). In the above Pubmed links it clearly states that Niacin increases 5-HT levels. Maybe a good candidate would be "triptans"? I think recently someone said his doctor recommended triptans to him in relation to Pois.

Please,  if someone tries any drug or supplement always read the information leaflet before.
P.S.: And sorry if the Post is a bit too technical talk!!  
* Mellivora already tried Diclofenac and it didn't work for him. Interestingly, Diclofenac was proposed by Dr.Goldmeier."

[Observer]

We should look into this...