Re: SSRI antidepressants may also affect human immune system

April 10, 2006

I saw this one over the weekend. More evidence that they have idea

how these drugs react in the body.

>

http://www.xagena.it/news/medicinenews_net_news/db4195f88b8dae852e94bf

cf0f2cc0b9.html

>

> SSRI antidepressants may also affect human immune system

>

> Researchers from town University Medical Center and a Canadian

> research institute fpund that drugs that treat depression by

manipulating

> the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain may also affect the

user's

> immune system in ways that are not yet understood.

> That's because the investigators found, for the first time, that

serotonin

> is passed between key cells in the immune system, and that the

chemical is

> specifically used to activate an immune response. They do not know

yet,

> however, whether these SSRI ( selective serotonin reuptake

inhibitors )

> drugs could have either a beneficial or a damaging effect on human

immunity

>

> " The wider health implication is that commonly used SSRI

antidepressants,

> which target the uptake of serotonin into neurons, may also impact

the

> uptake in immune cells, " said Gerard Ahern, at town and lead

> researcher on the study.

>

> He said that while it may be possible that SSRI drugs may restore a

healthy

> immune function in people who are depressed and prone to

infections, it is

> possible that they might also bolster immunity to the point that

they

> trigger autoimmune disease. " At this point we just don't know how

these

> drugs might affect immunity, so we really need to clarify the

normal role of

> serotonin in immune cell functioning, " Ahern said.

>

> In the brain, serotonin transmission between neurons is associated

with

> feelings of pleasure, mood, and appetite, and the class of

antidepressants

> known as SSRIs keeps serotonin active within the synaptic spaces

between

> neurons, enhancing the chemical's positive effects. Unlike in the

brain,

> which uses chemical messengers to communicate between nerve cells,

the

> immune system is believed to " converse " through physical contact --

one type

> of immune cell touches another, setting off a response.

>

> Specifically, " antigen presenting cells " display their antigens to

T-cells,

> and a resulting physical coupling between the antigens and the T-

cells will

> prompt the T-cells to divide and expand in population, triggering

an immune

> response designed to destroy the invader. This process may take

hours.

>

> What the town researchers found, however, is that dendritic

cells --

> the most powerful of the antigen-presenting cells and the ones that

can find

> invaders that have never infected the body and " educate " the immune

system

> to fight them -- also use serotonin to quickly excite a T-cell

response.

> They discovered that these dendritic cells can rapidly secrete

serotonin,

> which activates serotonin receptors on certain types of T-cells.

>

> " In addition to the physical contact, it surprised us to find that

these

> immune cells also have machinery to take up serotonin and to

secrete it in

> an excitatory manner, " Ahern said. " The point behind this

transmission is

> not entirely clear, but it appears to be an additional way of

stimulating a

> T cell response. "

>

> Drugs that block serotonin reuptake " likely change some of the

parameters of

> T-cell activation, but we don't know yet if it enhances or inhibits

the

> total immune response, " Ahern said. " But it is something that

should be

> explored because we really have no idea what SSRIs are doing to

people's

> immune systems. "

>

> Source: town University Medical Center, 2006

>

April 10, 2006

I saw this one over the weekend. More evidence that they have idea

how these drugs react in the body.

>

http://www.xagena.it/news/medicinenews_net_news/db4195f88b8dae852e94bf

cf0f2cc0b9.html

>

> SSRI antidepressants may also affect human immune system

>

> Researchers from town University Medical Center and a Canadian

> research institute fpund that drugs that treat depression by

manipulating

> the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain may also affect the

user's

> immune system in ways that are not yet understood.

> That's because the investigators found, for the first time, that

serotonin

> is passed between key cells in the immune system, and that the

chemical is

> specifically used to activate an immune response. They do not know

yet,

> however, whether these SSRI ( selective serotonin reuptake

inhibitors )

> drugs could have either a beneficial or a damaging effect on human

immunity

>

> " The wider health implication is that commonly used SSRI

antidepressants,

> which target the uptake of serotonin into neurons, may also impact

the

> uptake in immune cells, " said Gerard Ahern, at town and lead

> researcher on the study.

>

> He said that while it may be possible that SSRI drugs may restore a

healthy

> immune function in people who are depressed and prone to

infections, it is

> possible that they might also bolster immunity to the point that

they

> trigger autoimmune disease. " At this point we just don't know how

these

> drugs might affect immunity, so we really need to clarify the

normal role of

> serotonin in immune cell functioning, " Ahern said.

>

> In the brain, serotonin transmission between neurons is associated

with

> feelings of pleasure, mood, and appetite, and the class of

antidepressants

> known as SSRIs keeps serotonin active within the synaptic spaces

between

> neurons, enhancing the chemical's positive effects. Unlike in the

brain,

> which uses chemical messengers to communicate between nerve cells,

the

> immune system is believed to " converse " through physical contact --

one type

> of immune cell touches another, setting off a response.

>

> Specifically, " antigen presenting cells " display their antigens to

T-cells,

> and a resulting physical coupling between the antigens and the T-

cells will

> prompt the T-cells to divide and expand in population, triggering

an immune

> response designed to destroy the invader. This process may take

hours.

>

> What the town researchers found, however, is that dendritic

cells --

> the most powerful of the antigen-presenting cells and the ones that

can find

> invaders that have never infected the body and " educate " the immune

system

> to fight them -- also use serotonin to quickly excite a T-cell

response.

> They discovered that these dendritic cells can rapidly secrete

serotonin,

> which activates serotonin receptors on certain types of T-cells.

>

> " In addition to the physical contact, it surprised us to find that

these

> immune cells also have machinery to take up serotonin and to

secrete it in

> an excitatory manner, " Ahern said. " The point behind this

transmission is

> not entirely clear, but it appears to be an additional way of

stimulating a

> T cell response. "

>

> Drugs that block serotonin reuptake " likely change some of the

parameters of

> T-cell activation, but we don't know yet if it enhances or inhibits

the

> total immune response, " Ahern said. " But it is something that

should be

> explored because we really have no idea what SSRIs are doing to

people's

> immune systems. "

>

> Source: town University Medical Center, 2006

>

April 10, 2006

I saw this one over the weekend. More evidence that they have idea

how these drugs react in the body.

>

http://www.xagena.it/news/medicinenews_net_news/db4195f88b8dae852e94bf

cf0f2cc0b9.html

>

> SSRI antidepressants may also affect human immune system

>

> Researchers from town University Medical Center and a Canadian

> research institute fpund that drugs that treat depression by

manipulating

> the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain may also affect the

user's

> immune system in ways that are not yet understood.

> That's because the investigators found, for the first time, that

serotonin

> is passed between key cells in the immune system, and that the

chemical is

> specifically used to activate an immune response. They do not know

yet,

> however, whether these SSRI ( selective serotonin reuptake

inhibitors )

> drugs could have either a beneficial or a damaging effect on human

immunity

>

> " The wider health implication is that commonly used SSRI

antidepressants,

> which target the uptake of serotonin into neurons, may also impact

the

> uptake in immune cells, " said Gerard Ahern, at town and lead

> researcher on the study.

>

> He said that while it may be possible that SSRI drugs may restore a

healthy

> immune function in people who are depressed and prone to

infections, it is

> possible that they might also bolster immunity to the point that

they

> trigger autoimmune disease. " At this point we just don't know how

these

> drugs might affect immunity, so we really need to clarify the

normal role of

> serotonin in immune cell functioning, " Ahern said.

>

> In the brain, serotonin transmission between neurons is associated

with

> feelings of pleasure, mood, and appetite, and the class of

antidepressants

> known as SSRIs keeps serotonin active within the synaptic spaces

between

> neurons, enhancing the chemical's positive effects. Unlike in the

brain,

> which uses chemical messengers to communicate between nerve cells,

the

> immune system is believed to " converse " through physical contact --

one type

> of immune cell touches another, setting off a response.

>

> Specifically, " antigen presenting cells " display their antigens to

T-cells,

> and a resulting physical coupling between the antigens and the T-

cells will

> prompt the T-cells to divide and expand in population, triggering

an immune

> response designed to destroy the invader. This process may take

hours.

>

> What the town researchers found, however, is that dendritic

cells --

> the most powerful of the antigen-presenting cells and the ones that

can find

> invaders that have never infected the body and " educate " the immune

system

> to fight them -- also use serotonin to quickly excite a T-cell

response.

> They discovered that these dendritic cells can rapidly secrete

serotonin,

> which activates serotonin receptors on certain types of T-cells.

>

> " In addition to the physical contact, it surprised us to find that

these

> immune cells also have machinery to take up serotonin and to

secrete it in

> an excitatory manner, " Ahern said. " The point behind this

transmission is

> not entirely clear, but it appears to be an additional way of

stimulating a

> T cell response. "

>

> Drugs that block serotonin reuptake " likely change some of the

parameters of

> T-cell activation, but we don't know yet if it enhances or inhibits

the

> total immune response, " Ahern said. " But it is something that

should be

> explored because we really have no idea what SSRIs are doing to

people's

> immune systems. "

>

> Source: town University Medical Center, 2006

>

April 10, 2006

I saw this one over the weekend. More evidence that they have idea

how these drugs react in the body.

>

http://www.xagena.it/news/medicinenews_net_news/db4195f88b8dae852e94bf

cf0f2cc0b9.html

>

> SSRI antidepressants may also affect human immune system

>

> Researchers from town University Medical Center and a Canadian

> research institute fpund that drugs that treat depression by

manipulating

> the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain may also affect the

user's

> immune system in ways that are not yet understood.

> That's because the investigators found, for the first time, that

serotonin

> is passed between key cells in the immune system, and that the

chemical is

> specifically used to activate an immune response. They do not know

yet,

> however, whether these SSRI ( selective serotonin reuptake

inhibitors )

> drugs could have either a beneficial or a damaging effect on human

immunity

>

> " The wider health implication is that commonly used SSRI

antidepressants,

> which target the uptake of serotonin into neurons, may also impact

the

> uptake in immune cells, " said Gerard Ahern, at town and lead

> researcher on the study.

>

> He said that while it may be possible that SSRI drugs may restore a

healthy

> immune function in people who are depressed and prone to

infections, it is

> possible that they might also bolster immunity to the point that

they

> trigger autoimmune disease. " At this point we just don't know how

these

> drugs might affect immunity, so we really need to clarify the

normal role of

> serotonin in immune cell functioning, " Ahern said.

>

> In the brain, serotonin transmission between neurons is associated

with

> feelings of pleasure, mood, and appetite, and the class of

antidepressants

> known as SSRIs keeps serotonin active within the synaptic spaces

between

> neurons, enhancing the chemical's positive effects. Unlike in the

brain,

> which uses chemical messengers to communicate between nerve cells,

the

> immune system is believed to " converse " through physical contact --

one type

> of immune cell touches another, setting off a response.

>

> Specifically, " antigen presenting cells " display their antigens to

T-cells,

> and a resulting physical coupling between the antigens and the T-

cells will

> prompt the T-cells to divide and expand in population, triggering

an immune

> response designed to destroy the invader. This process may take

hours.

>

> What the town researchers found, however, is that dendritic

cells --

> the most powerful of the antigen-presenting cells and the ones that

can find

> invaders that have never infected the body and " educate " the immune

system

> to fight them -- also use serotonin to quickly excite a T-cell

response.

> They discovered that these dendritic cells can rapidly secrete

serotonin,

> which activates serotonin receptors on certain types of T-cells.

>

> " In addition to the physical contact, it surprised us to find that

these

> immune cells also have machinery to take up serotonin and to

secrete it in

> an excitatory manner, " Ahern said. " The point behind this

transmission is

> not entirely clear, but it appears to be an additional way of

stimulating a

> T cell response. "

>

> Drugs that block serotonin reuptake " likely change some of the

parameters of

> T-cell activation, but we don't know yet if it enhances or inhibits

the

> total immune response, " Ahern said. " But it is something that

should be

> explored because we really have no idea what SSRIs are doing to

people's

> immune systems. "

>

> Source: town University Medical Center, 2006

>

April 10, 2006

At this point Ahern is saying only that the immune system is affected

by SSRIs and doesn't clearly argue that it is good or bad for your

health. This is not new information. It has long been known that all

of the neuronal receptors are also found on the surface of white blood

cells.

While sometimes honest research actually occurs, I imagine that Ahern

will get grant money from the drug companies and the data will be

twisted to make it look like SSRIs are 'immune boosters' and the lowly

and easily manipulated doctors will start handing these out -- at

first to boost the immune system in the face of an infection or virus

or the flu -- and then... to prevent the flu during flu season.

Of course, the people will be addicted to the drugs and unable to stop

them, and when this happens they will be told that their underlying

bipolar just emerged. I am cynical, to be sure, but I also believe

that I am accurate. Remember, you read it here first.

> >

> http://www.xagena.it/news/medicinenews_net_news/db4195f88b8dae852e94bf

> cf0f2cc0b9.html

> >

> > SSRI antidepressants may also affect human immune system

> >

> > Researchers from town University Medical Center and a Canadian

> > research institute fpund that drugs that treat depression by

> manipulating

> > the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain may also affect the

> user's

> > immune system in ways that are not yet understood.

> > That's because the investigators found, for the first time, that

> serotonin

> > is passed between key cells in the immune system, and that the

> chemical is

> > specifically used to activate an immune response. They do not know

> yet,

> > however, whether these SSRI ( selective serotonin reuptake

> inhibitors )

> > drugs could have either a beneficial or a damaging effect on human

> immunity

> >

> > " The wider health implication is that commonly used SSRI

> antidepressants,

> > which target the uptake of serotonin into neurons, may also impact

> the

> > uptake in immune cells, " said Gerard Ahern, at town and lead

> > researcher on the study.

> >

> > He said that while it may be possible that SSRI drugs may restore a

> healthy

> > immune function in people who are depressed and prone to

> infections, it is

> > possible that they might also bolster immunity to the point that

> they

> > trigger autoimmune disease. " At this point we just don't know how

> these

> > drugs might affect immunity, so we really need to clarify the

> normal role of

> > serotonin in immune cell functioning, " Ahern said.

> >

> > In the brain, serotonin transmission between neurons is associated

> with

> > feelings of pleasure, mood, and appetite, and the class of

> antidepressants

> > known as SSRIs keeps serotonin active within the synaptic spaces

> between

> > neurons, enhancing the chemical's positive effects. Unlike in the

> brain,

> > which uses chemical messengers to communicate between nerve cells,

> the

> > immune system is believed to " converse " through physical contact --

> one type

> > of immune cell touches another, setting off a response.

> >

> > Specifically, " antigen presenting cells " display their antigens to

> T-cells,

> > and a resulting physical coupling between the antigens and the T-

> cells will

> > prompt the T-cells to divide and expand in population, triggering

> an immune

> > response designed to destroy the invader. This process may take

> hours.

> >

> > What the town researchers found, however, is that dendritic

> cells --

> > the most powerful of the antigen-presenting cells and the ones that

> can find

> > invaders that have never infected the body and " educate " the immune

> system

> > to fight them -- also use serotonin to quickly excite a T-cell

> response.

> > They discovered that these dendritic cells can rapidly secrete

> serotonin,

> > which activates serotonin receptors on certain types of T-cells.

> >

> > " In addition to the physical contact, it surprised us to find that

> these

> > immune cells also have machinery to take up serotonin and to

> secrete it in

> > an excitatory manner, " Ahern said. " The point behind this

> transmission is

> > not entirely clear, but it appears to be an additional way of

> stimulating a

> > T cell response. "

> >

> > Drugs that block serotonin reuptake " likely change some of the

> parameters of

> > T-cell activation, but we don't know yet if it enhances or inhibits

> the

> > total immune response, " Ahern said. " But it is something that

> should be

> > explored because we really have no idea what SSRIs are doing to

> people's

> > immune systems. "

> >

> > Source: town University Medical Center, 2006

> >

April 10, 2006