THE FAUCI FILES, 3( 76): Fauci: "No direct evidence HIV is cytopathic in vivo"

August 23, 2000

   ". . . the primary mechanisms of CD4+ T-cell  depletion
    in vivo remain unclear; there is no direct evidence
    that HIV is cytopathic in vivo"
      
                                       Dr. Anthony Fauci (cited below)

In yet another self-contradiction of Fauci's words versus Fauci's
drug industry agenda and deeds, the issue is best deferred
to Fauci and Immunology Nobelist Zinkernagle.


W. Fred Shaw, Editor
THE FAUCI FILES

Here are the quotes and references:

                      HIV Is Not Cytopathic In Vivo

According to NIAID Director Anthony Fauci and Nobelist Rolf Zinkernagel,
there is no convincing evidence that HIV is cytopathic in vivo, and the
focusing on peripheral blood lymphocytes, especially CD4 T cells, is
wrong (Ann Rev Microbiol 1996, 50:825-854; Curr Opin Immunol
1995, 7:462-470; N Engl J Med 1993, 328:327-335).

Fauci explains: "Although most studies necessarily focus on HIV
infection of peripheral-blood mononuclear cells, the lymphocytes that
are in the peripheral blood at any given time represent only about
2 percent of the total lymphocyte pool, most of which is in the lymphoid
organs. Hence, in certain pathologic processes involving lymphoid cells,
the peripheral blood may not accurately reflect the status of disease.
Furthermore, specific immune responses are generated predominantly in
the lymphoid organs rather than in the peripheral blood" N Engl J Med
1993, 328:327-335).

Fauci also explains: ". . . the primary mechanisms of CD4+ T-cell
depletion in vivo remain unclear; there is no direct evidence that HIV
is cytopathic in vivo, despite the fact that cytopathicity can be
readily demonstrated in the artificial milieu of culture" (Ann Rev
Microbiol 1996, 50:825-854).

Zinkernagel explains "The understanding of the pathogenesis of AIDS has
probably suffered seriously from two major shortcomings. First, HIV has
been wrongly (as postulated here) assumed to be cytopathic in vivo and
second, for obvious practical reasons, only peripheral blood has been
analyzed and therefore CD4+ T-cell counts in blood have captured too
much attention. As stated above, there is good evidence that many host
cells other than CD4+ T cells are infected by HIV, and there is no
convincing evidence that HIV is cytopathic in vivo" (Curr Opin Immunol
1995, 7:462-470).

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