POSSIBLE CAUSE OF HELPER T CELL DEPLETION
IN AIDS-THE LYMPHOCYTE WEAKENING FACTOR
HYPOTHESIS.
Enoh Nkongho Kingsly(MBBS)
Dept. of Neurosurgery,
Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel.
INTRODUCTION
Albert Lyons while concluding the introductory page of his book on the history of medicine wrote, âTo which erroneous doctrines do we in the twentieth century still cling? If we knew with certainty that they were wrong, we would discard them. Instead, we search and wait and hopeâ. (2) Although this question was directed at scientists in the twentieth century, it still applies to us today. A capital example of an erroneous doctrine today may be the HIV/AIDS hypothesis.
Since its birth at press conference in Washington DC on April 23 1984, (2) the hypothesis has been published in books, taught in schools, supported by the media and praised in international forums (17, 18) . Tons of dollars have been and are still being spent on HIV/AIDS research (12,16). Yet, no cure or vaccine against the disease has been developed. One wonders why scientists are still tenaciously clinging to this hypothesis. Whether it is because of their own selfish interests and personal gains (1, 4) or because they are genuinely ignorant of the true pathogenesis of AIDS remains a mystery.
It is important that the mechanism of helper T cell depletion in AIDS be closely looked into by the rational scientific world and alternative hypotheses on the disease (rather than the HIV/AIDS hypothesis) be encouraged for the benefit of millions (7) habouring the causative agent, those having full blown AIDS and mankind as a whole.
A hypothesis on the mechanism of helper T cell depletion is presented here, by looking at the controversies surrounding the popular HIV/AIDS hypothesis.
THE HYPOTHESIS.
Since the HIV has never been isolated, following internationally accepted procedures for the isolation of retroviruses and only proteins/glycoproteins particles have been isolated(13,14,15) these could be fragments of secreted substances from the causative agent of AIDS itself, whatever it may be. These substances which the author will call Lymphocyte Weakening Factors (LWFâs) when secreted, attach themselves to the cell surfaces of helper T cells, rendering them âweakened âand âconfusedâ. This activates a cascade of confusion involving the whole immune system.
It should be recalled that in the presence of an antigen, helper T cells initiate an immune response, mediate antigen-specific effector responses and regulate the activity of leucocytes (cytotoxic T cells, Natural Killer cells, suppressor T cells, macrophages, etc) by secreting soluble substances (cytokines and interleukins) (8).
When LWFâs bind to the cell membrane of a helper T cell, they alter the proteins, lipids and carbohydrates in it. The helper T cell then sends confused signals to B cells which in turn secrete âuseless antibodiesâ against the LWFâs and not the attacking organism/causative agent. Thus, the causative agent of AIDS stays unharmed, producing more LWFâs and the cycle of events continues. Other cells of the immune system are confused as well, producing an ineffective immune response.
Due to their reduced life span, weakened helper T cells decline in number and are eventually depleted leading to immune deficiency and the symptoms of AIDS. RNA viruses also invade a very few number of susceptible weakened helper T cells for their replication, with little or no harmful effect to the cells (10).
Incidental findings of these viruses on some of the weakened helper T cells may have led to the possibly erroneous HIV/AIDS hypothesis. Also some antibodies have been identified in AIDS patients (for example, by Robert Gallo and his team, who designed and patented their HIV tests) during research and may be the âuselessâ antibodies against secreted LWFâs (11). âViral particlesâ âmarkersâ, etc, have also been observed by reseachers (, 13, 14, 15) and could be LWFâs themselves.
Therefore, consideration must be taken of other microorganisms as the probable cause of AIDS during research , apart from the âHIVâ. Following this line of thinking, it is hoped that more fruitful results will be achieved.
EVALUATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS.
The fact the some researchers believe AIDS is not caused by a virus(5,9,13,14,15) and HIV has never been isolated following internationally accepted procedures for the isolation of retroviral particles seem to buttress the LWF Hypothesis. Retroviral particles are supposed to be located in the sediment bands at 1.16g/ml sucrose. An attempt by some researchers to isolate the virus had failed .Proteins/glycoproteins isolated from stimulated cultures form the basis of serological tests for âHIVâ. Such proteins as gp160/150, gp120, gp41/45, p34/32, p24; said to be unique to âHIVâ could be fragments of LWFâs! (14, 15, 16, 17)
Other researchers believe that AIDS may be caused by a TB-type bacterium (6) and some, by a toxin. (13,14,15).This also supports the fact that helper T cell depletion may be caused by other mechanisms such as the LWF hypothesis, other than the HIV/AIDS hypothesis.
Therefore, during research, a closer look should be taken at antibody-antigen interactions for more insight into the mystery surrounding AIDS.
Also, all patients tested positive for LWFâs (the so called positive âHIVâ test) should have a thorough biopsy examination of a palpable groin node or any other accessible lymph nodes for possible presence of other causative agents of the disease apart from âHIVâ.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE HYPOTHESIS AND DISCUSSION
From the foregoing discussion, it can be concluded that:
- AIDS may be caused by other micro-organisms other than the âHIVâ and helper T cell depletion may be caused by substances (LWFâs) secreted by the unknown causative agent.
-The presence of the asymptomatic or symptomatic stages (AIDS) can be detected by serological methods such as the Determine strips developed by Abbott Laboratories .The so called âviral antigensâ incorporated into the test strips could be fragments of LWFâs and the strips could be actually detecting the presence in blood of useless antibodies against LWFâs and not antibodies against a virus.
-Other hypotheses such as the LWF hypothesis should be considered during AIDS research in order for positive results to be yielded.
If one wishes to follow the example of âthe seven wonders of the ancient worldâ to name âthe seven mysterious diseases of the worldâ one is sure to put the AIDS topmost on the
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