Document 0470
 DOCN  M9590470
 TI    The solution to the seven mysteries of AIDS: the 'Trojan horse'.
 DT    9509
 AU    Erlander SR; Erlander's Natural Products, Altadena, CA 91003, USA.
 SO    Med Hypotheses. 1995 Jan;44(1):1-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/95295579
 AB    It is concluded that the sperm is the cause of AIDS but that HIV may
       slightly alter the symptoms of this disease, as compared to idiopathic
       CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia, or ICL, where the sperm, but not HIV, is assumed
       present. In the proposed mechanism, the sperm selectively accepts into
       its interior only macrophage-tropic HIV through its CD4+ antigens and
       carries this HIV into a person through four possible pathways: rectum
       (anal sex), genital ulcers, blood transfusions, and female circumcision.
       Then the sperm acts as a 'Trojan horse' by entering HLA-DR+ CD4+ T cells
       and releasing the HIV into these cells. The released HIV in turn mutates
       to a form capable of attacking CD4+ T cells. Thus the sperm by a 'Trojan
       horse' mechanism has changed the tropism of HIV. However, experimental
       evidence indicates that this mutated HIV is essentially non-toxic. In
       contrast, it is concluded that the sperm is extremely toxic since it is
       capable of inducing autoimmune reactions (by means of its CD4+ antigens)
       and is capable of entering and destroying HLA-DR+ CD8+ and HLA-DR+ CD4+
       T cells in either the presence or absence of HIV (AIDS or ICL). Hence,
       the mysteries of AIDS can be explained by the presence of the toxic
       sperm and its complicated interactions with HIV (the 'Trojan horse'
       mechanism).
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*ETIOLOGY/PHYSIOPATHOLOGY/
       TRANSMISSION  Antigens, CD4/IMMUNOLOGY  Blood Transfusion/ADVERSE
       EFFECTS  Circumcision/ADVERSE EFFECTS  CD4-Positive
       T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY  CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY  Female
       Genital Diseases, Male/COMPLICATIONS  Homosexuality, Male  Human
       HIV/*PHYSIOLOGY  Macrophages/*PHYSIOLOGY/VIROLOGY  Male
       Spermatozoa/*PHYSIOLOGY/VIROLOGY  Tropism/*PHYSIOLOGY
       Ulcer/COMPLICATIONS  JOURNAL ARTICLE

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