Naltrexone research: boosts effectivness of HIV drugs

[Guest guest]

This is an important research, typically basic petri-dish research is

the first step before animal studies, then human studies. In the case

of naltrexone & MS, since so many humans are already using it, and

human trials are already underway at Penn State for Crohn's, Dr

Gironi plans to start a human trial on LDN & MS in Italy.

The small $20,000 research fund we are all working to raise could be

used to do the basic petri-dish work, in fact the researchers at the

LDN conference said this is a critical part to confirm and properly

adjust dosage for humans, and understand cell behavior behind the

results they can measure in the human trial. We don't know yet what

kind of research will be proposed for the LDN MS fund, I'm just

giving an example that I drew from this exciting HIV study. And we

may be able to use our fund as seed money to get matching grants from

the governement for a bigger fund. Anything is possible when we all

join together!

Please donate http://ldninfo.org/research_funding.htm

SammyJo

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Source: NIH/National Institute On Drug Abuse

Date Posted: 2002-05-30

Web Address:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/05/020530074106.htm

DRUG USED IN TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLISM MAY HAVE ROLE IN TREATMENT OF HIV

Naltrexone, a drug used in the treatment of heroin addiction and

alcoholism, may increase the effectiveness of the antiretroviral

drugs

zidovudine (AZT) and indinavir, which are used in the treatment of

human

immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors in

the

brain preventing the " high " associated with the use of heroin and

other

opioids. Although the mechanism of the synergistic activity of

naltrexone, AZT, and indinavir is unknown, the interaction of

naltrexone with

opioid receptors may play a role.

Researchers at the Institute for Brain and Immune Disorders,

Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Hennepin County Medical

Center, and the

University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis conducted an in

vitro study with CD4+ T lymphocytes. These cells express opioid

receptors and are the primary cells targeted by HIV.

Cells were obtained from the blood of HIV-1-seronegative individuals

and then infected with HIV-1. Cells were incubated for 4 days with

AZT,

indinavir, naltrexone or combinations of the drugs. HIV-1 p24 antigen

levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. The

researchers

found that naltrexone alone had no effect on HIV-1 expression by the

cells, but when the drug was added to cell cultures containing AZT or

indinavir, the antiviral activity of these drugs increased.

WHAT IT MEANS: Naltrexone is a novel approach to HIV treatment since

it

appears to target the cells infected with the virus rather than the

virus itself, unlike current treatment medications.

The NIDA-funded study, led by Dr. , appears in the

November 2001 issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence.