Methadone increases the effect of the AIDS virus

2001/05/18 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Farmakologia
• Medikuntza

Philadelphia researchers incorporated methadone into the blood cells of AIDS patients and in 5 out of 6 cases began replicating deaf viruses. In addition, in vitro tests performed on microscopy and macrophage cells, methadone increases the rate of HIV contamination. Both types of cells are virus deposits in the human body.

It appears that methadone raises the expression level of the cell membrane CCR5 receptor and activates the GIB LTR promoter that passes from state to asset. However, only some variants of HIV use CCR5 to introduce the receptor into the cell, so the influence of methadone is not the same in all cases.

Researchers have also analyzed the influence of other opiates and observed similar results. However, since studies have been done in vitro, it cannot be concluded that it will equally affect people affected by HIV who are receiving methadone, even if it is considered necessary to take it into account.

A Californian researcher investigating the influence of cocaine and marijuana on AIDS cases, for example, questions the usefulness of these trials. In his opinion, only direct in vitro effects are visible and it is not known what happens throughout the system. Therefore, to know what the safe consequences are, more research will be needed.