TY - JOUR
T1 - 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine increases susceptiblity to genital herpes simplex virus infection in mice
AU - Pennock, Jeffry W.
AU - Stegall, Rachael
AU - Bubar, Marcy J.
AU - Milligan, Gregg
AU - Cunningham, Kathryn A.
AU - Bourne, Nigel
N1 - Funding Information:
Received 7 April 2009; accepted 22 May 2009; electronically published 16 September 2009. Potential conflicts of interest: none reported. Financial support: Sealy Center for Vaccine Development (predoctoral fellowship to J.W.P., grant R01 A1052372 to N.B., and K05 DA020087 to K.A.C.). Presented in part: 2009 Annual IHII/McLaughlin Colloquium, Galveston, Texas, 26 February 2009 (poster 17). Reprints or correspondence: Nigel Bourne, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555-0436 ([email protected]).
PY - 2009/10/15
Y1 - 2009/10/15
N2 - Abused by >1.2 million Americans, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (commonly referred to as ecstasy) is popular in the dance club, rave, and circuit party scenes. MDMA and other similar drugs are reportedly associated with increased incidence of sexually transmitted infectious diseases, such as AIDS and genital herpes, and may have immunological effects. In the present study, we demonstrate that MDMA causes increased susceptibility to herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in mice and earlier onset of genital herpes. We also demonstrate that MDMA has an effect on the cytokines of the innate immune system-both systemically and, for the first time, in the genital tract. These data suggest that MDMA may play an important biological role in infection.
AB - Abused by >1.2 million Americans, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (commonly referred to as ecstasy) is popular in the dance club, rave, and circuit party scenes. MDMA and other similar drugs are reportedly associated with increased incidence of sexually transmitted infectious diseases, such as AIDS and genital herpes, and may have immunological effects. In the present study, we demonstrate that MDMA causes increased susceptibility to herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in mice and earlier onset of genital herpes. We also demonstrate that MDMA has an effect on the cytokines of the innate immune system-both systemically and, for the first time, in the genital tract. These data suggest that MDMA may play an important biological role in infection.
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U2 - 10.1086/605891
DO - 10.1086/605891
M3 - Article
C2 - 19758099
AN - SCOPUS:70349410394
SN - 0022-1899
VL - 200
SP - 1247
EP - 1250
JO - Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - Journal of Infectious Diseases
IS - 8
ER -