Food for thought... Immune suppression/activation and HHV-6 reactivation

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

Below is some information I found regarding what researchers think it may be one

of the causes for immune suppression, immune activation(microglial activation)

and HHV6 viral reactivation in many children with autism. Researchers think

that the measles virus can infect dendritic cells which control the function of

the B and T cells that are deregulated in many children with autism. Measles

Virus-infected cells can develop immunosuppressive activities leading to HHV-6

viral reactivation and other opportunistic infections including many fungal,

bacterial and viral which many children with autism suffer from as well.

Read the information from the links below and think how this could apply to your

child or many children with autism you know.

Have a great Friday!

Stop Calling It Autism!

http://www.stopcallingitautism.org

Measle virus-infected dendritic cells develop immunosuppressive and cytotoxic

activities.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11846228

Measle virus (MV) infection induces a transient but profound immunosuppression

characterized by a panlymphopenia which occasionally results in opportunistic

infections responsible for a high rate of mortality in malnourished children.

Dendritic cells and the control of immunity

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9521319

B and T lymphocytes are the mediators of immunity, but their function is under

the control of dendritic cells.

HHV 6/HHV 7 Reactivation

http://www.hopkins-abxguide.org/pathogens/viruses/hhv_6_hhv_7.html?contentInstan\

ceId=255974

Reactivation: occurs in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised; however,

disease associations have been made in the immunocompromised host mainly.

From the Polymicroblial Diseases Book

Measles Virus-induced Immunosuppression

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=pmd & part=A4

Immunologic Paradox

MV infection produces an immune system paradox. MV infection, while inducing

lifelong immunity, also suppresses the immune system leading to an increase in

susceptibility to other, secondary infections (24, 67, 91). In vitro research

has shown that MV infection of cell cultures makes the cells more susceptible to

a secondary bacterial invasion (13). The immune suppression appears coincident

with the marked activation of the immune system, in the form of MV-specific

responses, which in turn is coincident with the onset of clinical disease, i.e.,

rash. Immune suppression can continue for many weeks after the apparent recovery

from measles (47). Therefore, MV infection results in both immune activation and

immune suppression at the same time.