Endosymbiotic Actinidic Archaea and Viroids-Role in Immune Regulation

Objective: A hypothesis regarding the role of endosymbiotic actinidic archaea and viroids in immune regulation is put forward. Endogenous digoxin has been related to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosis and rheumatoid arthritis. The possibility of endogenous digoxin synthesis by actinidic archaea with a mevalonate pathway and cholesterol catabolism was considered. The role of archaeal derived viroids in immune regulation was also evaluated. Methods: 10 cases each of multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosis and rheumatoid arthritis before starting treatment and 10 age and sex matched healthy controls from general population were chosen for the study. Cholesterol substrate was added to the plasma of the patients and the generation of cytochrome F420, free RNA, free DNA, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, hydrogen peroxide, serotonin, pyruvate, ammonia, glutamate, cytochrome C, hexokinase, ATP synthase, HMG CoA reductase, digoxin and bile acids were studied. The changes with the addition of antibiotics and rutile to the patient’s plasma were also studied. The statistical analysis was done by ANOVA. Results: The parameters mentioned above were increased the patient’s plasma with addition of cholesterol substrate. The addition of antibiotics to the patient’s plasma caused a decrease in all the parameters while addition of rutile increased their levels. Conclusions: An actinide dependent shadow biosphere of archaea and viroids is described in multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosis and rheumatoid arthritis contributing to their pathogenesis. The actinidic archaea and viroids play a role in immune regulation. Key words: Archaea; Viroids; Cholesterol; Actinide; Multiple sclerosis; Systemic lupus erythematosis; Rheumatoid arthritis; Immune regulation