title: AIDS, drugs of abuse and the immune system: a complex immunotoxicological network.
abstract: Two of the most interesting questions often asked about AIDS is why many people do not become immunodeficient or get complicating disease when first infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and what are the "risk factors" making some individuals more susceptible to the disease. A large majority of people with AIDS have a well established history of drug and alcohol abuse. Both drugs of abuse and alcohol have immunotoxic properties as evidenced by a number of studies. These include marked changes in the cellular, humoral and other components of the immune defense mechanism. Such a compromise of the immune system can render it susceptible to the development of AIDS after HIV infection. This paper reviews the evidence suggesting possible links between substance abuse and its immunotoxicology, and their possible roles in the pathogenesis of AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson 85724.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000633:toxicity; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications; D009294:Narcotics / Q000633:toxicity; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D000431:Ethanol; D003042:Cocaine