| POSSIBLE CAUSE OF HELPER T CELL DEPLETION | | | | caused by a virus(5,9,13,14,15) and HIV has never |
| IN AIDS-THE LYMPHOCYTE WEAKENING FACTOR | | | | been isolated following internationally accepted |
| HYPOTHESIS. | | | | procedures for the isolation of retroviral particles |
| Enoh Nkongho Kingsly(MBBS) | | | | seem to buttress the LWF Hypothesis. Retroviral |
| Dept. of Neurosurgery, | | | | particles are supposed to be located in the sediment |
| Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel. | | | | bands at 1.16g/ml sucrose. An attempt by some |
| INTRODUCTION | | | | researchers to isolate the virus had failed .Proteins |
| Albert Lyons while concluding the introductory page | | | | glycoproteins isolated from stimulated cultures form |
| of his book on the history of medicine wrote, | | | | the basis of serological tests for ‘HIV’. Such |
| ‘To which erroneous doctrines do we in the | | | | proteins as gp160/150, gp120, gp41/45, p34/32, p24; |
| twentieth century still cling? If we knew with | | | | said to be unique to ‘HIV’ could be |
| certainty that they were wrong, we would discard | | | | fragments of LWF’s! (14, 15, 16, 17) |
| them. Instead, we search and wait and hope’. (2) | | | | Other researchers believe that AIDS may be caused |
| Although this question was directed at scientists in | | | | by a TB-type bacterium (6) and some, by a toxin. |
| the twentieth century, it still applies to us today. A | | | | (13,14,15).This also supports the fact that helper T |
| capital example of an erroneous doctrine today may | | | | cell depletion may be caused by other mechanisms |
| be the HIV/AIDS hypothesis. | | | | such as the LWF hypothesis, other than the HIV |
| Since its birth at press conference in Washington DC | | | | AIDS hypothesis. |
| on April 23 1984, (2) the hypothesis has been | | | | Therefore, during research, a closer look should be |
| published in books, taught in schools, supported by | | | | taken at antibody-antigen interactions for more |
| the media and praised in international forums (17, 18) . | | | | insight into the mystery surrounding AIDS. |
| Tons of dollars have been and are still being spent on | | | | Also, all patients tested positive for LWF’s (the |
| HIV/AIDS research (12,16). Yet, no cure or vaccine | | | | so called positive ‘HIV’ test) should have a |
| against the disease has been developed. One | | | | thorough biopsy examination of a palpable groin node |
| wonders why scientists are still tenaciously clinging to | | | | or any other accessible lymph nodes for possible |
| this hypothesis. Whether it is because of their own | | | | presence of other causative agents of the disease |
| selfish interests and personal gains (1, 4) or because | | | | apart from ‘HIV’. |
| they are genuinely ignorant of the true pathogenesis | | | | CONSEQUENCES OF THE HYPOTHESIS AND |
| of AIDS remains a mystery. | | | | DISCUSSION |
| It is important that the mechanism of helper T cell | | | | From the foregoing discussion, it can be concluded |
| depletion in AIDS be closely looked into by the | | | | that: |
| rational scientific world and alternative hypotheses on | | | | - AIDS may be caused by other micro-organisms |
| the disease (rather than the HIV/AIDS hypothesis) | | | | other than the ‘HIV’ and helper T cell |
| be encouraged for the benefit of millions (7) | | | | depletion may be caused by substances (LWF’s) |
| habouring the causative agent, those having full | | | | secreted by the unknown causative agent. |
| blown AIDS and mankind as a whole. | | | | -The presence of the asymptomatic or symptomatic |
| A hypothesis on the mechanism of helper T cell | | | | stages (AIDS) can be detected by serological |
| depletion is presented here, by looking at the | | | | methods such as the Determine strips developed by |
| controversies surrounding the popular HIV/AIDS | | | | Abbott Laboratories .The so called ‘viral |
| hypothesis. | | | | antigens’ incorporated into the test strips could |
| THE HYPOTHESIS. | | | | be fragments of LWF’s and the strips could be |
| Since the HIV has never been isolated, following | | | | actually detecting the presence in blood of useless |
| internationally accepted procedures for the isolation | | | | antibodies against LWF’s and not antibodies |
| of retroviruses and only proteins/glycoproteins | | | | against a virus. |
| particles have been isolated(13,14,15) these could be | | | | -Other hypotheses such as the LWF hypothesis |
| fragments of secreted substances from the | | | | should be considered during AIDS research in order |
| causative agent of AIDS itself, whatever it may be. | | | | for positive results to be yielded. |
| These substances which the author will call | | | | If one wishes to follow the example of ‘the |
| Lymphocyte Weakening Factors (LWF’s) when | | | | seven wonders of the ancient world’ to name |
| secreted, attach themselves to the cell surfaces of | | | | ‘the seven mysterious diseases of the |
| helper T cells, rendering them “weakened | | | | world’ one is sure to put the AIDS topmost on |
| “and “confused”. This activates a | | | | the |
| cascade of confusion involving the whole immune | | | | REFERENCES. |
| system. | | | | 1. Albert B, Shine K. Scientists and integrity of |
| It should be recalled that in the presence of an | | | | research. Science 1994; 226:1660-1661 |
| antigen, helper T cells initiate an immune response, | | | | 2. Albert SL, Joseph RP. Medicine- An Illustrated |
| mediate antigen-specific effector responses and | | | | History. New York: Harry N. Abrams Inc; 1987: 8-9 |
| regulate the activity of leucocytes (cytotoxic T cells, | | | | 3. Altman LK. “Researchers believe AIDS virus is |
| Natural Killer cells, suppressor T cells, macrophages, | | | | found”. The New York Times 1984 April 24:C1 |
| etc) by secreting soluble substances (cytokines and | | | | and C3 |
| interleukins) (8). | | | | 4. Bell R. Impure science: Fraud, compromise and |
| When LWF’s bind to the cell membrane of a | | | | political influence in scientific research. New York: John |
| helper T cell, they alter the proteins, lipids and | | | | Wiley & Sons; 1992: 301 |
| carbohydrates in it. The helper T cell then sends | | | | 5. Broxmeyer L. Is AIDS really caused by a virus? |
| confused signals to B cells which in turn secrete | | | | Med Hypotheses.2003 May;60 (50):671-688 |
| “useless antibodies” against the LWF’s | | | | 6. Cantwell AR: Do TB-type bacteria cause |
| and not the attacking organism/causative agent. | | | | AIDS?JOIMR 2007; 5:1-7 |
| Thus, the causative agent of AIDS stays unharmed, | | | | 7. CDC. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report. Center for |
| producing more LWF”s and the cycle of events | | | | Disease Control and Prevention.1999 |
| continues. Other cells of the immune system are | | | | 8. Daniel PS, Abba IT. Basic Human Immunology. |
| confused as well, producing an ineffective immune | | | | London: Appleton & Lange; 1991: 61-65 |
| response. | | | | 9. De Harvin E. Pioneer deplores “HIV” |
| Due to their reduced life span, weakened helper T | | | | “maintaining errors is evil”. Continuum. |
| cells decline in number and are eventually depleted | | | | London.1997-1998; 5(2): 24 |
| leading to immune deficiency and the symptoms of | | | | 10. Fauci AS. Immunopatogenesis of HIV infection. J |
| AIDS. RNA viruses also invade a very few number of | | | | Acq Immunodeficiency Syndromes 1993; 6; 655-662 |
| susceptible weakened helper T cells for their | | | | 11. Gallo, et al. United States Patent No. 4520113, 1985 |
| replication, with little or no harmful effect to the cells | | | | 12. Mitchell D. Clinton Foundation targets health |
| (10). | | | | systems combating AIDS pandemic. Reuters Health |
| Incidental findings of these viruses on some of the | | | | Information, February 19, 2003 |
| weakened helper T cells may have led to the | | | | 13. Papadopulos-Eleopulos E, Turner VF, Papadimitrion |
| possibly erroneous HIV/AIDS hypothesis. Also some | | | | JM & Causer D. The Isolation of HIV: has it really |
| antibodies have been identified in AIDS patients (for | | | | been achieved; The case against. Continuum (London) |
| example, by Robert Gallo and his team, who designed | | | | 1996:4(6):S1-S24 |
| and patented their HIV tests) during research and | | | | 14. Papadopulos-Eleopulos E, Turner VF, Papadimitrion |
| may be the “useless” antibodies against | | | | JM & Causer D. HIV antibodies: further questions and |
| secreted LWF’s (11). ‘Viral particles’ | | | | plea for clarification. Curr Med Res Opin 1997; |
| ‘markers’, etc, have also been observed by | | | | 13:627-634 |
| reseachers (, 13, 14, 15) and could be LWF’s | | | | 15. Papadopulos-Eleopulos E, Turner VF, Papadimitrion |
| themselves. | | | | JM, el al. Why no whole virus? Continuum(London) |
| Therefore, consideration must be taken of other | | | | 1997; 4(5):27-30 |
| microorganisms as the probable cause of AIDS during | | | | 16. Strom S. Grant will support development of topical |
| research , apart from the “HIV”. Following | | | | HIV medications. The New York Times 2003; April 1 |
| this line of thinking, it is hoped that more fruitful | | | | 17. “The Durban Declaration”. Nature July 6, |
| results will be achieved. | | | | 2000; 406:15-16 |
| EVALUATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS. | | | | 18. “The New York Times Declaration”. HIV |
| The fact the some researchers believe AIDS is not | | | | causes AIDS. To argue otherwise costs lives. |