Drugs of abuse, immunity, and immunodeficiency
By: edited by Herman Friedman, Steven Specter, and Thomas W. Klein.
Contributors: Friedman, Herman, 1931-; Specter, Steven.; Klein, Thomas W.; University of South Florida. College of Medicine.; National Institute on Drug Abuse.; International Conference on Drugs of Abuse, Immunity, and Immunodeficiency (1989 : Clearwater Beach, Fla.)
Series: Advances in experimental medicine and biology ;; v. 288
Publisher: Plenum Press; Springer
Published: 1991
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 317
Subjects: Drugs of abuse -- Immunology -- Congresses.; Psychoneuroimmunology -- Congresses.; Immunological deficiency syndromes -- Congresses.; Marijuana -- Immunology -- Congresses.; Cocaine -- Immunology -- Congresses.; Alcohol -- Immunology -- Congresses.; Alcohol, Ethyl -- pharmacology -- congresses.; Antibody Formation -- drug effects -- congresses.; Cannabis -- congresses.; Cocaine -- pharmacology -- congresses.; Immune System -- drug effects -- congresses.; Narcotics -- pharmacology -- congresses.
Description: This volume focuses on the relationship between the nervous and the immune system with regard to the effects of drugs of abuse and infections, including infection caused by the immunodeficiency virus which causes AIDS, the number one health problem worldwide. Chapters focus on the brain-immune axis, detailing the effects of drugs of abuse. It is well known that recreational drugs of abuse such as morphine, cocaine, and marijuana, as well as other drugs, including the legal drugs alcohol and nicotine, are used by large numbers of individuals. Serious concerns have been raised about the consequences of using such drugs, especially in relation to their effects on normal physiological responses, including immune mechanisms. It is now widely recognized not only that many drugs of abuse have serious consequences on normal parameters of neurologic and neuroendocrine systems in general but also that effects on those systems, in turn, may affect indirectly immunity and also directly affect immune systems. Much data has now been accumulated showing that drugs of abuse markedly alter the immune response in human populations as well as in experimental animals, both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, studies on microbial infections have shown that many drugs of abuse are associated with increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, especially opportunistic intracellular microorganisms, including viruses such as HIV which causes AIDS. The mechanisms whereby drugs of abuse increase the likelihood of infections by opportunistic microorganisms in humans as well as in experimental animals are delineated. This volume will further the understanding of the impact of drugs of abuse on the brain-immune axis and its relationship to immunomodulation and infection, especially that caused by the AIDS virus.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Based on the program of the International Conference on Drugs of Abuse, Immunity, and Immunodeficiency held in Clearwater Beach, Fla., Dec. 13-15, 1989, sponsored by the University of South Florida College of Medicine with the support of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.