According to the following link, bipolar depression, MS and schizophrenia may be due to human endogenous retrovirus (HERV-W). A compromised immune system affects monocytes (white blood cells) which activate the HERV-W virus.
As well, the XMRV has been associated with chronic fatigue syndrome and prostate cancer.
This leads me to speculate the following, which might be validated by medical evidence:
IMHO this may explain how mirtazapine works: its anti-histamine action affects the histamine part of inflammation. Inflammation results when mast cells are broken down by scavanger white blood cells, releasing histamine. How this may trigger HERV-W and XMRV is in part an immune reaction resulting from a complex combination of factors including stress and a viral infection, specifically from the herpes family.
Another side effect of antihistamines is sedation. Thus mirtazapine's antidepressant action may most likely be due to the thorough bed rest I get with daily dosage, which reduce my stress levels.
Originally posted: 11/13/2010 04:10:00 AM
Updated and edited: 12/05/2010 05:26:00 PM
For more information, see the following links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endogenous_retrovirus
http://bipolar-hotbrain.blogspot.com/2010/07/virus-herv-w-could-be-cause-of.html
The XMRV Retrovirus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86OQJjLbHt0
2 comments:
A more plausible reason for cancer would be an endogenous retrovirus activated by a complex combination of stress, successive bouts of viral influenza, and a genetic predisposition for certain forms of cancer.
This retrovirus would use chemical messages to "tell" a group of cells not to die, leading to cancer.
There also may be a link between HERV-W, and some types of cancer.
Also there may be a link between HERV-W and how some people, when they contract influenza, their immune system will overreact, cause inflammation due to the cytokine storm, develop pneumonia-like symptoms not so different from the symptoms of a really bad allergy, including build up of mucus, and may die.
HERV-W may also be implicated in the psychological effects of certain autoimmune disease (depression, malaise, and sometimes psychosis).
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