Introducing the Cell Danger Response
Sometimes the levels of nutrients in my client’s blood tests are poor - that’s an easy fix - I can guide clients to food forms of the missing nutrients and to high quality, appropriately dosed supplements, and with a bit of careful guidance, suddenly the world is a better a place.
Sometimes the levels of nutrients in my client’s blood tests are fabulous and yet they still feel awful - exhausted, low in mood, reactive to their environment, catching every illness going and properly fed up.
So what’s going on?
The Cell Danger Response
In 2013 Dr Robert Naviaux introduced the concept of the “Cell Danger Response”:
“The cell danger response (CDR) is the evolutionarily conserved metabolic response that protects cells and hosts from harm. It is triggered by encounters with chemical, physical or biological threats that exceed the cellular capacity for homeostasis”.
In the presence of threats, the cell shields itself from further injury in a number of ways which include:
stiffening the cell membrane to limit the spread of pathogens
releasing antiviral and antimicrobial chemicals
warning other cells that danger is present by releasing ATP
altering host (human) behaviour so that unnecessary activity ceases.
The types of threats which Dr Naviaux identified were:
biological - viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites
chemical - heavy metals, BPA, chemical flame retardants
physical - heat, salt, pH shock, radiation
psychological trauma.
This all sounds pretty sensible doesn’t it? The cell hunkers down in the face of threat and then goes forth to complete the healing cycle once the threat has been removed.
But what happens if the healing cycle isn’t completed and the cell gets stuck in the danger response? This is particularly problematic when the threat is from psychological trauma. We all know how difficult it is to feel safe again in the aftermath of emotional distress. Yet until we feel safe again, our cell membranes continue to be stiff and nutrients continue to struggle to cross from the blood into the cell and into the mitochondria for use in energy production. The numbers on the blood test results are fabulous, but we are left with the very real lived experience of fatigue.
How to move forward
The cell membrane needs to go to rehab. This happens in two ways:
nourishing the cell membrane with fatty acids and phospholipids, and
finding and using the tools which allow our brain and body to feel safe again.
Where to start
If this article resonates with you and you would like to discuss working with me, please do book a call using the button below.
Sources:
Naviaux, R. (2014) “Metabolic features of the Cell Danger Response”, Mitochondrion, 16: 7-17.
Naviaux, R. (2023) “Mitochondrial and metabolic features of salugenesis and the healing cycle”, Mitochondrion, 70, pp. 131-163.
