James Howard wrote:
[edit]
> My work suggests melatonin and DHEA act together in a cycle that is
> necessary for proper growth, development, and maintenance of all tissues.
> This material about melatonin and these cytokines further supports my
> theory of AIDS. This all means that, in AIDS, as in aging, the melatonin -
> DHEA cycle has shut down.
In HIV infection and AIDS numerous metabolic cycles are affected.
Gastric acid production by parietal cells is probably one of the
earliest. This and many factors contribute to the phenomenon of
wasting and interfere with the growth and maintenance of host
tissues.
All of the pathologically aberrant processes attending infection
by HIV stem from the activity of the viral glycoprotein gp120
that is secreted by infected host cells. AIDS is the sequelae of
this infection.
Increases in Gp120 and gp120/immune complex serum levels during
the course of the disease in children and adults, the effects of
gp120 on neural cells and the differentiation of CD34+ lymphoid
progenitor cells and thymocytes, and on aberrant activation and
cytokine secretion patterns of mature T cells, induction of
apoptosis, B-cell hyperactivity, inhibition of T-cell dependent
B-cell differentiation, modulation of macrophage functions,
interactions with components of complement, production of anergy
through molecular mimicry, and the requirement of this viral
glycoprotein for cell entry, all point to gp120 as a primary
pathogenic determinant.
If a bell-shaped curve represents average population serum
concentrations of a small, natural, immunomodulating metabolite,
like 7-hydroxycoumarin, 0-hydroxycinnamic acid, or the small
hydroxylated aromatic acids, competition for common affinity
sites with gp120 would explain a small group of longterm
survivors, a small group of rapid progressors, and large group
in between.
Although serum half-life for 7-hydroxycoumarin is extremely short,
this type of molecule inhibits HIV greater than 50% in vitro.
I am currently screening compounds for longer half-life and higher
activity that may be tolerated at higher doses.
Therapies designed to support host tissues and metabolic
processes may be limited in their approach by temporarily
improving the generalized condition of the host without directly
affecting the site of intimate contact between gp120 and host
tissues. This may prove useful in extending survival, however, it
may also drastically shorten survival if it enhances conditions
for increased production and secretion of gp120.
A good analogy would be taking a shot of whiskey, a healthfood
shake, and anti-venom while a rattlesnake is still attached to
your leg. The whiskey will be beneficial. In the case of HIV
and gp120, it is a rattlesnake with an inexhaustible supply of
venom.
You can pump up your patient with all the nutrition and hormones
you like. The question of outliving the snake is moot. What is
not open to argument is the painful reality of the loneliness of
the person to whom the snake is attached.
"Get thee behind me... "
"Give a dying man strong drink... "
Good luck and good hunting,
Charlie
Charles P. McCarthy, Clinical Specialist
Healthcare Consulting and
Medical Research
Carmichael, CA USA
