In an earlier post, I wrote about how marijuana lowers TNF IN VITRO.
That article can be found on the cannabis link of the misc.health.aids
homepage.

Billie Goldberg recently cited the following study on sci.med.aids:

Herbein G, Montaner LJ, Gordon S. Tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibits
entry of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 into primary human
macrophages: a selective role for the 75-kilodalton receptor. Journal of
Virology, 1996 Nov, 70(11):7388-7397.

The study discusses how TNFalpha can inhibit entry of HIV into macrophages
IN VITRO but not in other cells that can be infected by HIV.

"…In contrast to the inhibition of viral entry into primary
TCDM, pretreatment with the hrTNFalpha did not modify HIV-1 entry
into phytohemagglutinin A-activated peripheral blood lymphocytes.
TNFalpha-pretreatment inhibited HIV-1 replication in primary TCDM but
not in phytohemagglutinin A-activated peripheral blood lymphocytes as
assessed by decreased reverse transcriptase activity in culture
supernatants…"

The study acknowledges that TNF levels are higher in some patients with
AIDS.

"…Soluble TNF-R2 has been detected in the circulation of patients with
AIDS at significantly higher levels than in control subjects and has been
proposed as a marker of disease progression…"

It also explains that TNFalpha promotes cellular immunity in other
diseases.

"…Page 7395: The beneficial function of TNFalpha in cellular immunity to
parasitic pathogens such as Leishmania species is well established…"

Herbein G. et al. appear to want a therapy that promotes cellular
immunity while lowering TNFalpha’s promotion of HIV replication.

"…Therefore, the role of TNF-alpha in HIV infection is complex, and
further studies are needed to determine whether inhibition of entry and
enhancement of HIV infection by TNFalpha might be uncoupled in primary
macrophages…"

Cannabis has been shown to lower TNFalpha IN VITRO and does not appear to
damage cellular immunity IN VIVO.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, Volume 20:1, January-March 1988
And was reprinted with permission in:
Marijuana & AIDS: Pot, Politics & PWAs in America
Written and Compiled by R.C. Randall
Galen Press, Washington, D.C. (1991)

Marijuana & Immunity
by Leo Hollister, M.D.
[...]
        The   vast   majority   of   people   can   be  made  sensitive  to
dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), a powerful skin sensitizer. DNCB is often used
with  "recall" antigens  (e.g. tuberculin  and mumps)  to test patients for
anergy. Sensitivity to  DNCB was found in all  34 chronic marijuana smokers
who  were tested  as compared  with 96%  of 279  healthy nonsmokers. On the
other  hand,  34  patients  with  cancer,  whose  cell-mediated immunity is
sometimes decreased, showed a positive reaction in only 70% of those tested
(Silverstein  &  Lessin  1974).  
[...]

Silverstein,  M.I. &  Lessin, P.J  "Normal skin  test responses  in chronic
marijuana users." Science, Vol. 186:740-741, 1974.

Dr. Donald I. Abrams must be allowed to study the effects of cannabis on
people with AIDS so we can see what effect it has on TNFalpha and cellular
immunity IN VIVO.

   Californians, please vote *YES* on Prop. 215 and *NO* to Dan Lungren.

             james m. scutero, original proponent of misc.health.aids

                     the newsgroup of acquired immune deficiency syndromes
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surfin’ with aids.                                    * (hot ascii surfer)