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SOLUTION to the
HIV-AIDS CONTROVERSY ?
(English)
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CONTROVERSIA sulla causa
dell'aids:
1) Il virus
dell'HIV non e’ stato veramente
isolato, cioe’
fotografato da solo - il suo DNA - e non insieme ad altre cose o
sostanze.
2) A prescindere dall'esistenza o meno dell'HIV, un
virus non può da solo, dare una breve e lievissima
influenza (detta sindrome pre-aids, quasi inavvertibile,
essere sconfitto dall'organismo in fase s+ asintomatica
e poi a distanza di anni scatenarsi e portare a morte
con l'aids conclamato !
Tutto ciò NON e' logico (verruche, herpes, condilomi e
varicella fanno qualcosa di simile ma in quei casi si
riconosce che la causa è uno stress dovuto ad altre
cause del sistema
immunitario).
3) I test non sono
affidabili perché vanno interpretati (es.western
blot) e variano i parametri di s+, da paese a paese.
4) A prescindere da tale affidabilità un risultato di s+
potrebbe essere lo stesso sintomo di sforzo per il
sistema immunitario dovuto a varie cause, per esempio i
vaccini.
5) I virus, anche se possono essere cofattori di infezione, sono molto
probabilmente dei prodotti del corpo in cui vivono (non
sono micro organismi, ma solo semplici proteine
complesse a DNA).
6) Proteggersi con il
preservativo
quando si fa sesso è doveroso per evitare altre malattie
e/o per non avere figli, come altrettanto doveroso è
evitare di esagerare con le paranoie che possono portare
malattie da psicosomatizzazione.
7) In conclusione forse sarebbe il caso di indagare di
più il lato immunologico della faccenda e meno quello
virale, proprio perchè per tutti gli altri virus
esistenti non esistono cure se non quelle naturali
consistenti nella risposta immunitaria dell'organismo.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Medical Hypothesis (1996) 46:
388-392
Can we find a solution to the HIV-AIDS controversy ?
- Is AIDS the consequence of continuous excessive stressing of the body ?
By A. HASSIG, LIANG WEN-XI AND K. STAMPFLI
The assumption proposed by Gallo in 1984, that the cause of AIDS is infection with
HIV viruses was founded on the correlation between the detection of antibodies to these
viruses and the onset of AIDS. This view became generally accepted, and today it is still
the foundation stone of HIV-virus related measures for the prevention and treatment of
AIDS. Duesberg vehemently opposed this opinion. However, although his reasoning was in
many respects justified, it was unanimously rejected by AIDS researchers with an interest
in virology.[1, 2]
The time for re-evaluation has come, now that methods are available for the direct
detection of HIV viruses and for the detection of cellular anti-HIV immune
reactions.
In this regard, the work of Bentwich and Jehuda-Cohen of Israel deserves special
attention.[3-6] They developed a polyclonal B-cell activation test with which they were
able to demonstrate that HIV infections are common among anti-HIV-antibody-negative
high-risk individuals. The disease is brought under control by cellular immune reactions
and the anti-HIV antibody test remains negative. They also demonstrated that individuals
with a positive anti-HIV antibody reaction as a rule showed a pre-existing activation of
their immune system at the time of infection. By contrast, the majority of people whose
immune system was healthy and normal at the time of infection with HIV showed only a
cellular immune reaction by which the HIV viruses had been brought under control and
probably partially eliminated from the body.
Strong support for this work came with the reports of Mosmann and Coffman
concerning functionally opposing cytokine profiles of CD4 helper lymphocytes.[7] They
demonstrated that two groups of cells could be identified among the CD4 helper
cells;
these they designated Th-1 ancl Th-2 cells. The Th-1 cells secrete preferentially IL-2,
IL-12 and IFN-d, which stimulate the cellular immune reactions. The Th-2 cells produce
primarily IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10, by which they stimulate the humoral immune
reactions.
Clerici and Shearer established that displacing the lymphokine profile Th-1 to the Th-2
profile is of crucial importance for the course of HIV infection.[8] Thus, numerous
high-risk individuals who are anti-HIV antibody negative show a strong immune reaction of
the Th-1 type to HIV antigens. Moreover, these authors have recently reported that the
lymphokine profiles Th-l and Th-2 are linked by hormonal equilibrium states between
cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).[9]: cortisol assists the formation of Th-2
cytokines, while DHEA promotes the formation of Th-1
cytokines. Important supporting
evidence for the influence of the lymphocytic cytokine profile on the course of HIV
infection, which was studied by Clerici and Shearer was brought to light in the
investigations of "murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome" (MAIDS), which is
caused by defective mouseleukaemia viruses. IL 4-deficient mice survived infection with
this virus, while IL-4 producers succumbed to the disease.[10]
What is the relationship between the lymphocytic cytokine profiles Th-1 and Th-2
and acquired immunodeficiency states in stress reactions?
As we said in our review of AIDS prevention in HIV
carriers, an acquired
immunodeficiency state is a component of all stress reactions.[11] The concept of stress
first described by Selye in 1936 essentially states that the body presents a standard
response to the numerous somatic and psychic stresses [12], in which activation of the
neuroendocrine stress axis hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenals plays a central
role. The
increased release of catecholamines and glucocorticoids from the adrenals centralises the
metabolism on the supply of rapidly available energy sources, in particular
glucose. T
he glucocorticoids limit the inflammatory reactions and in so doing raise the susceptibility
to infection. They reduce the number of lymphocytes and eosinophils and the thymus
weight,
and are at the centre of suppression of the specific Iymphoplasma-cell immune
reactions.
The problem of stress-related irnmunosuppression and its effect on latent viral
infections was for more than a decade the area of research of Kiecolt-Glaser and
Glaser.[13, 14] In extensive investigations they showed that psychic stress reactions
raise the titre of humoral antibodies to viruses such as EBV, CMV and HSV-l,
simultaneously attenuating the cellular immune reactions, which are measured in cytotoxic
T-cell reactions to these viruses. They explained their findings in terms of the release
of latent viruses by the attenuation of cellular defence mechanisms and the secondary
stimulation of the formation of humoral antibodies. This interpretation is supported by
the observation that the titre of anti-poliomyelitis antibodies is unchanged during stress
reactions. Unlike the three herpes viruses mentioned
above, poliomyelitis viruses are
completely eliminated by the immune reaction after spreading through the body. During
their investigations, the authors also observed that the balance between the cyclic
nucleotides AMP and GMP, which play a central role in the regulation of lymphocytic
metabolic functions, can also be ascribed to the general stress process.[15] The rise in
cAMP, which is characteristic for the suppression of all specific cellular immune
reactions, is linked to a reduction in cGMP and is concomitant with the decline in
cellular immune reactions and the increase in humoral immune reactions.
From what has been said so far it might be supposed that HIV infection can be
brought under control by cellular immune reactions in individuals with full
immunocompetence, some of the viruses being eliminated and some remaining dormant within
the body.
On the immunosuppressant behaviour of high-risk
groups: homosexual males, drug
addicts of both sexes, haemophiliacs and recipients of blood transfusions
Bentwich and Wainberg [5] have many times since 1985 pointed out that homosexual
males not infected with HIV often exhibit marked activation of their immune system. The
interferon system [3, 16], the subpopulations of peripheral lymphocytes [3], the elevated
cell-bound cytotoxicity [17], and the formation of serum autoantibodies are involved
here.[18]
Of special note was the finding that the reactivation of an Epstein-Barr viral
infection prior to infection with HIV correlated significantly with the appearance of
anti-HIV antibodies.[19] The concentration of transforming growth factor in the seminal
fluid is relevant in this context. This is an immunosuppressant protein whose function it
is to protect the sperm in the vagina from immunological attack by the
woman's body.
During anal intercourse, it is evidently capable of weakening the immune system of the
passive partner.[20]
The immunosuppressant action of opiates has been most widely
researched. In studies
in mice, chronic administration of morphine causes severe involution of the
thymus,
characterised by increased apoptosis, primarily of CD4+ / CD8+ thymocytes. The reason for
this is probably that morphine increases the formation of corticotropin in the
hypothalamus, thereby increasing the formation of ACTH in the pituitary and cortisol in
the adrenal cortex.[21, 22] It can thus be assumed that hypercortisolism plays an
important role in opiate-induced immunosuppression. To date there have been few
investigations of the immunosuppressant effect of cocaine.
With regard to its effect on
AIDS, let us here refer simply to the animal studies of Lopez and Watson, who showed that
in murine AIDS (MAIDS) cocaine dramatically increases the damaging effect of the
retroviral infection on the lymphoreticular tissue of the intestinal mucosa.[23]
The question concerning the extent to which immunosuppression in haemophiliacs is
correlated with the anti-HIV-antibody status has been researched in detail. The studies of
Madhok [24] are of most significance in this regard.
The first point to mention regarding
this problem is that about half of haemophiliacs produced no anti-HIV antibodies in
response to the repeated administration of HIV-contaminated "largepool"
coagulation products during the period 1981-1986.[25] To date, no investigations have yet
been performed to ascertain whether this patient group has neutralised the HIV viruses by
exclusively cellular immune reactions, and then partially eliminated them.
However, it is
certain that the "large-pool" factor-VIII products in use at that time inhibited
the formation of IL-2, thereby weakening the cellular immune reactions.[26]
Moreover, at a
time when HIV infection was still unknown among haemophiliacs, numerous patients died of
acquired immunodeficiency diseases.[27] It must also be considered that, as a consequence
of the administration of "large-pool" products manufactured from a large number
of pooled plasmapheretic donations from paid donors, the large majority of haemophiliacs
used to suffer from chronic hepatitis, which may be regarded as a supplementary
immununosuppressant risk. Neither should one underestimate the iron overload as a result
of bleeding into the joints and the blood transfusions this necessitated. Haemophiliac
immunodeficiency is characterised to particularly good effect by the following two
observations. Bedall et al. made the observation that anti-HIV negative haemophiliac
adolescents exposed to patients with open tuberculosis developed tbc just as frequently as
did children receiving chemotherapy for the treatment of solid tumours.[28] Counter to
expectations, in a well-studied group of Dutch haemophiliacs Rosendaal et al. observed a
2.5 times higher mortality rate from cancer.[29] The question currently under debate is
whether the genetically engineered factor-VIII products, which evidently do not stress
patient's immune system, are suitable substitutes for products manufactured from human
plasma.[30]
Pathogenetic mechanisms of acquired immunodeficiency states
The Th-l/Th-2 imbalance of the cytokines of CD4
lymphocytes, which has an
immunosuppressant effect, and the displacement of the ratio of the cyclic lymphocytic
nucleotides cAMP/cGMP are at least in part attributable to hypercortisolism within the
context of stress reactions. This is due to the increased formation of corticotropin in
the hypothalamus and the resulting activation of the formation of ACTH in the pituitary
and cortisol in the adrenal cortex. In association with sympatheticotonic activation of
the autonomic nervous system, which occurs in parallel, this is the standard physiological
reaction to all inflamrnatory, toxic, psychic and nutritive stress states. In persistent
subclinical stress states there is continuous slight activation of
macrophages, with
increased formation of monokines and oxygen radicals. This state has a broad tolerance
threshold, and can be compensated in the long term. It is manifested as a moderately
increased susceptibility to infections and certain degenerative diseases. According to
Bentwich and Wainberg, this group includes the many anti-HIV antibody-positive individuals
in Africa, Asia and Latin America in whom endemic infections associated with HIV
infections favour the humoral immune reaction and weaken the cellular immune
reaction.[5,
6] Thus, according to WHO statistics of 1 July 1994, the number of notified AIDS cases in
south-east Asia between 1979 and the end of June 1994, which amount to a total of 6739,
has so far not risen above the 0.5% threshold of the estimated 2.5 million anti-HIV
antibody-positive carriers of the virus.
This group of anti-HIV antibody-positive HIV carriers contrasts with the groups
within North America and Europe at high risk of contracting AIDS. In these
groups,
intensive and continuous stresses play a considerable part in the outbreak of
disease.
As already mentioned, the persistent activation of macrophages with the release of
inflammation mediators and oxygen radicals are prominent in these groups.[31] This leads
to increased hypercortisolism which in the lymphoid tissue reduces its most sensitive
element, the immature thymocytes, by increased
apoptosis, thereby appreciably reducing the
number of immunological precursor cells.
Gradually the other populations of CD4 helper
cells are affected as well, presumably also by HIV viruses, and progressive lyrnphopenia
occurs, with a corresponding displacement of the CD4/CD8 ratio.
The increasing attenuation
of the cellular immune reaction finally leads to activation of the infective agents latent
within the body, and thus to the large number of opportunistic inflammatory diseases
characteristic of AIDS.
Summary and Conclusions:
If to conclude we now attempt to answer the question of the title "Can we find
a solution to the HIV-AIDS controversy?", our present level of knowledge yields the
following hypothesis:
HIV viruses are not the only cause of AIDS. Apart from proof that infection with
HIV viruses has occurred, a positive result in an anti-HIV antibody test is also an
indication of an HIV-independent immunosuppression state.
This might explain why the HIV
infection was not rendered symptomlessly latent by cellular immune
mechanisms.
According to the definition of the Centers of Disease Control
(CDC), classical AIDS
is the consequence of infection with HIV in association with continuous excessive stress,
such as is observed in the known high-risk groups.
Also at the centre of the pathogenic
process is hypercortisolism-determined damage to the cellular elements of the lymph
system, in which insufficiency of thymus is prominent.
For this reason, in our view there are indications for shifting preventive measures
more and more from the prophylaxis of infection with HIV viruses to the prophylaxis of
AIDS by reducing stress factors. We believe that measures against the excessive formation
of O2-radicals as a result of chronic inflammation and nutritive iron overload in the form
of antioxidant food supplements will also be important.
Unfortunately, antiviral therapy in HIV-positive individuals and AIDS patients has
so far yielded no decisive results in spite of intensive efforts, and it is therefore time
that we researchers turn increasingly to reinforcing the defensive capabilities of the
host organism. The most important question here is which mechanisms are responsible for
the fact that HIV-positive individuals can survive with this retrovirus for many
years, or
even permanently, without contracting AIDS. *
We are grateful to the Hans Eggenberger Foundation in
Zurich, which supported this research.
We would like to thank Prof. Dr.
med. H. Cottier and E. Lauppi for their
valuable assistance.
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Holistic Medicine (Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Ganzheits Medizin) Oct. 1994
Bibliografia
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