A historical overview of early immune research in MCS [Multiple Chemical Sensitivity], MCS-Aware

[Dolphin]

A historical overview of early immune research in MCS - MCS Aware

A historical overview of early immune research in MCS - MCS Aware

mcs-aware.org

A historical overview of early immune research in MCS​

• A historical overview of early immune research in MCS

Note that this is summary that we’ve gathered from being part of an MCS taskforce – (not intended as clinical guidance).​

Early Immune System Research in Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)​

What past studies found — and what it may mean today

In the 1980s and 1990s, several research groups investigated whether the immune system might play a role in Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Although this research is now quite old and has not been followed up extensively in recent years, many people with MCS may find it interesting to know what these early studies showed.

Below is a simple summary of the key findings.

Continues at link above

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

Interesting to see how cautiously that is presented and all credit for that. In practice what has been found looks very normal and if this is the some total it is quite good negative evidence for immune involvement.

A point that may be worth making is that anti-chemical antibodies will generally do nothing. For antibodies to cause disease they need to engage signalling systems like complement and gerneally they do not do that unless both arms of the crayfish-shaped antibody molecules are immobilised together on a bacterium or virus. A chemical molecule binding to each arm would just stop the antibody binding to anything else. Very large chemical molecules, especially if they have repeating subunits, might activate but not perfumes or flavourings.

 

[ScoutB]

For antibodies to cause disease they need to engage signalling systems like complement and generally they do not do that unless both arms of the crayfish-shaped antibody molecules are immobilised together on a bacterium or virus.

Is this because the binding is just too weak and prone to breaking without both arms grabbing onto the same molecule?

Since I was a teenager (maybe earlier, I don’t know) I’ve seemed to get lightheaded and brain foggy in certain locations, eg furniture stores with lots of new products in a small space. I often see symptoms like this noted as a reaction to VOCs but I’ve never been able to find a satisfactory/solid answer on what could be going on there biologically or why some people seem to be more sensitive than others.

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

Is this because the binding is just too weak and prone to breaking without both arms grabbing onto the same molecule?

The binding can be strong but what matters is the effect on the molecule as a whole - particularly constraining its range of movement. An antibody molecule is normally like a crayfish with two claws constantly waving its body and claws about. If you fix both claws to something the immobilisation alters the likelihood of a signalling molecule attaching to the body. And even more importantly signalling molecules like complement C1q like to bind to several antibody bodies all clustered together attached to an antigenic lump. There isn't room on a single fragrance molecule to fit several antibodies.

(For IgE antibodies attached to mast cells things are rather different, which is why you can get allergic reactions to rather small molecules but then the effect is allergy symptoms. The paper seemed to be implying something more general.)