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Introduction and Perspectives This volume is based on the
proceedings of the 7th annual symposium on the topic Neuroimmune
Circuits, Infectious Diseases and Drugs of Abuse, Bethesda,
Maryland, Oc- ber 7-9, 1999. This symposium, as in the past,
focused on newer knowledge concerning the relationship between the
immune and nervous systems with regards to the effects of drugs of
abuse and infections, including AIDS, caused by the
immunodeficiency virus. Presentations discussed the brain-immune
axis from the viewpoint of drugs of abuse rather than from the
subject of the brain or immunity alone. The major aim of this
series of conferences has been to clarify the consequences of
immunomodulation induced by drugs of abuse in regards to
susceptibility and pathogenesis of infectious diseases, both in man
and in various animal model systems. The recreational use of drugs
of abuse such as morphine, cocaine, and marijuana by large numbers
of individuals in this country and around the world has continued
to arouse serious concerns about the consequences of use of such
drugs, especially on the normal physiological responses of an
individual, including immune responses. Much of the recent data
accumulated by investigators show that drugs of abuse, especially
opioids and cannabinoids, markedly alter immune responses in human
populations as well as in experimental animals, both in vivo and in
vitro.
This volume represents the proceedings of the 2nd annual symposium
on the Brain Immune Axis and Substance Abuse held at the Breakers
Hotel in Palm Beach, FL in June 1994. The history of productive
studies concerning the relationship between the nervous and the
immune systems is relatively recent. Studies on the effects of
drugs of abuse on the immune system and on infections among
individuals who abuse drugs are also of recent vintage. Only in the
last decade have investigators begun to describe the role of drugs
of abuse and their endogenous counterparts on the brain-immune
axis. Thus, the involvement of the neuroendocrine system in the
interactions of drugs of abuse and the immune system has only
recently been appreciated. In addition, it has been recognized that
direct neural inputs impact immune function. Given the complexity
of these interactions, characterization of biologically significant
phenomena and elucidation of their mechanisms of action often
requires a multidisciplinary approach. This meeting, on which the
chapters in this book are based, brought together scientists from
an array of biomedical disciplines whose work is focused on the
effects of drugs of abuse on the neuro-endocrine immune axis. The
meeting was unique in focusing on the brain-immune axis from the
viewpoint of drugs of abuse rather than either immunity itself or
the brain itself. Presentations addressed the direct effects of
drugs of abuse on various components of the immune system, as well
as those mediated indirectly by the central nervous system and the
neuroendocrine system.
This volume represents the Proceedings of the Symposium on AIDS,
Drugs of Abuse and the Neuroimmune Axis. This meeting was held in
San Diego, California, November 11-13, 1995. As in the previous
symposia in this series, productive studies were reviewed
concerning the relationship between the nervous and the immune
systems in regards to the relationship between drugs of abuse and
infections, especially infections by the immunode ficiency virus
that causes AIDS. In recent years, various investigators have begun
to describe the role of illicit drugs and their endogenous
counterparts on the brain-immune axis. It is widely recognized that
the neuroendocrine system is intimately involved in the effects and
manifestations of the interactions of drugs of abuse and the immune
system. The meeting on which the chapters in this book are based
brought together many biological scientists from an array of
various scientific disciplines whose work is focused on the effects
of drugs of abuse on the neuroendocrine-immune axis and its
relationships to immunodeficiency caused by the AIDS virus. As in
the past, the symposium was unique in focusing on the .
brain-immune axis from the viewpoint of drugs of abuse rather than
from the viewpoint of immunity or the brain itself."
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-immuneaxis and its relationship to immunomodulation and
infection, especially that caused by the AIDS virus.
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