Document 0052
 DOCN  M9470052
 TI    A disturbance of interferon synthesis with the hyperproduction of
       unusual kinds of interferon can trigger autoimmune disease and play a
       pathogenetic role in AIDS: the removal of these interferons can be
       therapeutic.
 DT    9409
 AU    Skurkovich S; Skurkovich B; Bellanti JA; Advanced Biotherapy Concepts
       Labs, Rockville, MD.
 SO    Med Hypotheses. 1994 Jan;42(1):27-35. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94254741
 AB    Disturbances of interferon synthesis with the hyperproduction of unusual
       kinds of interferons may be the initial step which triggers autoimmune
       disease through a chain of pathological reactions including the
       disturbances of several immunological and cytokine cascades. Prolonged
       circulation of this interferon may be a predictive marker of an
       autoimmune condition; the administration of interferons to animals or
       humans with autoimmune disease or an underlying or latent autoimmune
       condition can exacerbate or trigger the disease. Healthy people do not
       have interferon in their blood. This fundamental disturbance of
       interferon synthesis can result either from a genetic predisposition or
       from the influence of certain viruses (or viral particles) or both
       factors together. AIDS has many features similar to autoimmune disease,
       including the hyperproduction of aberrant interferon, a type with
       restricted anti-HIV activity, protectively induced by HIV to allow its
       continued replication and survival. This interferon stimulates the
       production of certain cytokines and autoantibodies which help unleash
       the potentially self-destructive powers of the immune system, bringing
       immunological chaos. In other words, while usual viruses induce normal
       interferon, which protects the cells against viral infection, HIV
       induces an abnormal, defective kind of interferon which ensures virus
       survival. Since there is no known effective method of destroying HIV
       directly, removing links in this chain of reactions could indirectly
       destroy HIV and possibly help restore immune functioning.(ABSTRACT
       TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*ETIOLOGY/METABOLISM/THERAPY  Animal
       Autoimmune Diseases/*METABOLISM  Human  HLA-D Antigens/BIOSYNTHESIS
       Interferons/*BIOSYNTHESIS  JOURNAL ARTICLE  REVIEW  REVIEW, TUTORIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).