Posted by rbob on December 17, 2008, at 16:03:52
In reply to Re: How do MAOIs affect the immune system? » rbob, posted by SLS on December 17, 2008, at 6:41:32
Hi Scott,
> Can you provide some Internet links describing a
> direct MAOI-immune system connection?Hmm... your request actually helped me find references that provide some insight. Oddly, I couldn't find the vague references to this feature of the MAOIs that prompted my post here in the first place.
I could still use some help interpreting what it all means, although I will be researching on my own, too.
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0163445304000593
The immunostimulating and antimicrobial properties of lithium and antidepressants .
Journal of Infection , Volume 49 , Issue 2 , Pages 88 - 93 J . LiebHere are a few quotes (I'll focus on MAOIs only, although lithium and other ADs are discussed):
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) inhibit PGE2 synthesis by limiting the mobilization of [arachidonic acid]
MAOIs can remit tuberculosis, aphthous ulcers,
cold sores, genital herpes, upper respiratory tract
infections and plantar warts. Furazolidone, the
veterinary antibiotic, is a MAOI.-----------------------------------
Apparently the TCAs, SSRIs, and the MAOIs all have certain anti-viral and anti-microbial effects as well. (I'd be happy to pull that info out and post it separately, if there's interest.)
The journal article above has a pretty extensive list of references that describe all sorts of wild things that ADs can do to your immune system or to specific microbes.
Unfortunately, I don't know if the "only" immunomodulatory effect is PG inhibition, or if it was just what this article decided to focus on. Secondarily, I'm not entirely clear what PG inhibition results in. ;) It might be better explained in the article, but I haven't gotten through it all yet.
Can you guys help me figure out what this stuff implies?
poster:rbob
thread:869153
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081214/msgs/869296.html