DHEA and AIDS, more support
James Howard
In the past, I have posted my theory of DHEA and AIDS here. My work
suggests that low DHEA results in vulnerability to HIV infection and
AIDS. Furthermore, my work suggests that DHEA levels are controlled by
the "DHEA - melatonin" cycle. Hence, melatonin should increase DHEA,
and, therefore, melatonin should show positive effects on IL-2 and CD4+
cells. In the first quotation, below, this is the finding. The second
quotation demonstrates that, indeed, melatonin activates DHEA production
in the adrenals of an animal model. I invite you to read my theory of
AIDS at http://www.naples.net/~nfn03605 and additions to my theory,
posted at various news groups.
James Howard
J Immunol 1997 Jul 15;159(2):574-581
"Melatonin enhances IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-gamma production by human
circulating CD4+
cells: a possible nuclear receptor-mediated mechanism involving T helper
type 1
lymphocytes and monocytes." Garcia-Maurino S, et al.
"This paper shows that melatonin is able to activate human Th1
lymphocytes by increasing the production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma in vitro.
Th2 cells appear not to be affected by melatonin, since IL-4, which is
mostly produced by Th2 cells, is not modified by the hormone.
Melatonin also enhances IL-6 production by PBMCs. The activation by
melatonin of IL-6 production is apparently related to the presence of
monocytes, rather than to Th2 cells, in the cell preparation, since
PBMCs depleted of monocytes (CD14+ cells) were not activated. Activation
of PBMCs by melatonin was dependent on the dose and, measured by
cytokine production, was observed only when cells were either not
activated or only slightly activated by low concentrations of PHA, or
when cell activation was achieved by incubating the cells with
previously irradiated cells. Using a different approach to identify what
type of cells among the PBMC subsets was activated by melatonin,
the expression of CD69, a marker of cell activation, was studied.
Melatonin increased the percentage of cells expressing the CD69 Ag in
CD4+
but not in CD8+ cells. We have also achieved enhanced production of IL-2
and IL-6 using CGP 52608, a specific ligand of the putative nuclear
melatonin receptor RZR/ROR, raising the possibility of direct effects of
melatonin on gene regulation in both Th1 cells and monocytes. The
results suggest that melatonin may be involved in the regulation of
human immune functions by modulating the activity of Th1 cells and
monocytes via nuclear receptor-mediated transcriptional control."
Life Sci 1996;58(14):PL263-PL267
"Stimulation of the secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone by melatonin in
mouse adrenals in
vitro." Haus E, Nicolau GY, et al.
"Adrenals of young adult male mice kept on a LD 12:12 lighting regimen
for three weeks prior to study and harvested at four different circadian
stages were incubated for 2 hours with 0.4 IU synthetic ACTH in 2 ml
Krebs-Ringer buffer (KR), or with 50, 150, and 450 microM of melatonin
in KR containing 0.4 IU ACTH. The addition of melatonin to ACTH leads to
a dose dependent stimulation of production and/or secretion of
DHEA into the incubation medium irrespective of the circadian stage of
harvesting of the adrenals. This relationship is of interest in view of
the simultaneous decrease of dehydroepiandrosterone and melatonin in the
course of aging, and the effects of these compounds upon aging
related changes."
