Transfer Factors: Properties, Mechanism of Action and Its Clinical Applications

By Prof Dr Mike KS Chan, Prof Dr Michelle Wong and Dr Patricia Pan

To date, transfer factors hold promise as one of the most exciting discovery in immunology and disease prevention. As the 21st century unfolds, these small molecules represent an important key to human health and well-being. Transfer factors are material present in dialysable leukocyte extracts capable of transferring cell-mediated immunity to pathogens. Transfer factors from one immune donor can be introduced into a non-immune recipient, potentially delivering an improved ability to fight threats to the recipient’s health. Similar to vaccines, transfer factors are prophylactic when administered prior to exposure to a pathogen.

This book is an overview of basic immunology and the concept of transfer factors derived from past and current scientific publications. In this book, the properties, mechanism of action, and clinical applications of transfer factors are described. Since their discovery, evidence suggests transfer factors play an important role as immune modulators in treating diseases associated with the defective function of cell-mediated immunity such as cancer, infectious diseases, etc.

The MF Plus Super Transfer Factor is then introduced including its function, characteristics, course, mode of administration, and advantages. The conclusion compiles research papers of transfer factor from years 2009 to 2020.

This book will interest researchers and scientists in fields such as immunology, molecular medicine, biomedicine, immunotherapy, pathology, microbiology, and oncology.

• Language: English
• Publisher: EUROPEAN WELLNESS ACADEMY
• Release date: May 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9781662930027

Book preview

TRANSFER FACTORS

Properties, Mechanism of Action

and Its Clinical Applications

Published by

EUROPEAN WELLNESS ACADEMY

Copyright © 2022 by Prof Dr Mike KS Chan, Prof Dr Michelle Wong, Dr Patricia Pan, Dr Dina Tulina, Yvonne Chia, Clarice EA, Yee Hui Rong, Yenny Kenisi

All rights reserved. Neither this book, nor any parts within it may be sold or reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022941736

ISBN (paperback): 9781662930010

eISBN: 9781662930027

Contents

• • •

PREFACE

LIST OF ABBREVIATION

OVERVIEW OF BASIC IMMUNOLOGY

CELLS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Introduction

Myeloid Lineage

Neutrophils

Eosinophils

Basophils

Monocytes

Macrophages

Mast Cells

Dendritic Cells

Lymphoid Lineage

T cells

B cells

NK cells

NK-T cells

Innate and Adaptive Immunity

ORGANS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Introduction

Bone Marrow

Thymus

Spleen

Lymph Nodes

TRANSFER FACTORS—WHAT ARE THEY?

The Properties of Transfer Factors

Structure of Transfer Factors

Biochemical Properties

Immunologic Properties

TRANSFER FACTORS PREPARATION

TRANSFER FACTORS MECHANISM OF ACTION

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS OF TRANSFER FACTORS

Transfer Factor and Cancer

Transfer Factor and Infections

Fungal Infections

Bacterial Infections

Parasitic Infections

Viral Infections

Transfer Factor and COVID-19

Usage in Paediatric Practice

MF PLUS (MITO ORGANELLES & NANO ORGANO PEPTIDES) SUPER TRANSFER FACTOR

Introduction

Functions and Characteristics

Course and Mode of Administration

Advantages of MF Plus STF

CONCLUSION

COMPILATION OF TRANSFER FACTOR RESEARCH ABSTRACTS (2009-2020)

REFERENCES

Preface

• • •

The immune system, classified into innate immunity and adaptive immunity, is a complex system built up by a network of protective barriers, molecules, cells, tissues and organs to protect the body from pathogens. It functions as a system to maintain tissue homeostasis as it confers a balanced state of health.

Innate immunity is present from birth, providing the first line of defence against foreign antigens without explicitly recognising the pathogens. The skin, mucous membrane, and secretory products such as saliva, tears and mucus serve as a vital physical barrier to prevent the entry of pathogens into our body. However, when microorganisms succeeded in entering the tissues or blood circulation, innate immune cells will migrate to the site of infection and destroy the microorganisms. When foreign antigens escape the defensive barriers and invade the host, innate immunity provides signals which will activate the adaptive immune system to protect the body against infectious agents. Adaptive immunity, further classified into humoral and cell-mediated immunity, serves as a second line of defence, acting specifically and forming immunological memory against foreign pathogens. Adaptive immunity takes place when an antigen escapes and invades the hosts, providing rapid response against previously encountered pathogens. However, some antigens such as microorganisms and cancer cells employ their strategies and camouflage themselves to evade immune surveillance to ensure their survival within the host, leading to the search for new approaches to boost up the immune system.

Interestingly, transfer factors display the capability to educate and modulate the immune system to express cell-mediated immunity to treat and prevent infections or diseases. Since the discovery of transfer factors, it has also been applied as primary therapy or adjuvant to treat immunodeficiencies and parasitic infections, as well as fungal and microbial, and some cancers. Today, researchers have also suggested using transfer factors as an option for the management of COVID-19, as they are capable of transferring antigen-specific information and therefore potentially preventing COVID-19 infection. This book will explain the overview of basic immunology, cells and organs of the immune system, properties of super transfer factors, mechanism of action, and the clinical applications of super transfer factors. We hope that this overview of transfer factors will give us insight into applying transfer factors as primary therapy or adjuvant to treat and prevent infections or diseases.

Professor Dr. Mike Chan and team

List of Abbreviation

• • •

5-FU – 5 Fluorouracil

ABZ – Albendazole

AIDS – Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

APC – Antigen-presenting cell

bDLE – Bovine dialysable leukocyte extract

BM – Bone marrow

BrdU – Bromodeoxyuridine

CFU-GM – Colony-forming units – granulocyte/macrophage

CIN 1 – Cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia grade 1

CMA – Conditional marketing approval

CMC – Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis

CMI – Cell-mediated immunity

CP – Chronic prostatitis

CPPS – Chronic pelvic pain syndrome

CPV – Canine parvoviral enteritis

CRP – C-reactive protein

CXCL8 – C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8

DC – Dendritic cell

DLE – Dialysable leukocyte extract

DLEp – Porcine dialysable leukocyte extract

DNA – Deoxyribonucleic acid

DNase – Deoxyribonuclease

DTH – Delayed-type hypersensitivity

EAP – Experimental autoimmune prostatitis

EBV – Epstein-Barr virus

ELISA – Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

EMA – European Medicines Agency

EUA – Emergency Use Authorization

EYHBV-TF – Egg yolk hepatitis B virus-specific transfer factor

FcεRI – High-affinity IgE Receptor

FDA – Food and Drug Administration

FOXP3 – Forkhead box protein P3

HBD-2 – Human beta-defensin-2

HBV – Hepatitis B virus

hDLE – Human dialysable leukocyte extract

HIV – Human immunodeficiency virus

hLEC / HuLEC – Human limbal epithelial cells

HPLC – High-performance liquid chromatography

HPRP – High pH reversed-phase

HPV – Human papillomavirus

HSA – Human sperm antigen

HSC – Hematopoietic stem cells

HSV – Herpes simplex virus

ICRP – IMMUNEPOTENT CRP

IFN-γ – Interferon gamma

Ig – Immunoglobulin

IL – Interleukin

IMPs – Immune modulating peptides

KSFM – Keratinocyte serum-free medium

LAIT / LAI – Leukocyte adhesion inhibition test

LIF – Leukocyte migration inhibition factor

LIS – Low grade intraepithelial squamous cervical lesions

LMI – Leukocyte migration inhibition

LPS – Lipopolysaccharides

LPT – Lymphocyte proliferation test

LS – Lymphocyte stimulation

LTC4 – Leukotriene C4

MC – Mast cell

MHC – Major histocompatibility complex

MIF – Macrophage migration inhibition factor

MIP-1α – Macrophage inflammatory protein 1α

MO – Mito Organelles

mRNA – Messenger RNA

NCRs – Natural cytotoxicity receptors

NETs – Neutrophil extracellular traps

NF-κB – Nuclear factor Kappa B

NK – Natural killer

NKT – Natural killer T-cell

NO – Nitric oxide

NOP – Nano organo peptides

Nrf2 – Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2

NTF – Non-specific transfer factor

PALS – Periarteriolar lymphoid sheath

PAMP – Pathogen-associated molecular pattern

PBMNC / PBMC – peripheral blood mononuclear cell

PCNA – Proliferating cell nuclear antigen

PCR – Polymerase chain reaction

p.i. – Post-infection

PMA – Phorbol myristate acetate

PMNs – Polymorphonuclear neutrophils

PRR – Pathogen recognition receptor

PSHBV-STF – Porcine spleen hepatitis B virus-specific transfer factor

qRT-PCR – Real-time quantitative reverse transcription

RANTES – Regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted

RNA – Ribonucleic acid

RNase – Ribonuclease

ROS – Reactive oxygen species

SA-STF – Staphylococcus aureus specific transfer factor

SN – Supernatant

STF – Super transfer factor

TCR – T-cell receptor

TF – Transfer factor

TFP – Transfer factor polypeptides

TGF-β – Transforming growth factor beta

Th1 – Type 1 T helper cells

TLR – Toll-like receptor

TNF – Tumoral necrosis factor

UVA – Ultraviolet A

VZV – Varicella zoster virus

Overview of Basic Immunology

• • •

Immunology is the study of the structure and function of the immune system, and how the cellular components of the immune system work together to reduce the threat of diseases.¹ The estimated total number of human cells in a 70 kg man is 3x10¹³ cells, which are the basic building blocks for organs and tissues. These cells work together to form tissues; tissues form into organs; and two or more organs work together to form organ systems.² In general, there are eleven human body systems: the skeletal, integumentary, musculoskeletal, digestive, cardiovascular/circulatory, respiratory, excretory, nervous, endocrine, reproductive and immune systems.³

Cells → Tissues → Organs → Organ Systems

The immune system is a complex system built up by a network of protective barriers, molecules, cells, tissues and organs, in order to protect the body from pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi.¹ The interactions of the immune system are managed by primary lymphoid organs (bone marrow, thymus) and secondary lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, spleen, Peyer’s patches, tonsils).⁴,⁵ All specialised cells of the immune system are generated