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Nikhil Prasad  Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Aug 20, 2024  3 months, 2 weeks, 5 days, 9 hours, 14 minutes ago

BREAKING! Ivermectin users will likely suffer severe or lethal Mpox infection due to diminished interferon Gamma

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BREAKING! Ivermectin users will likely suffer severe or lethal Mpox infection due to diminished interferon Gamma
Nikhil Prasad  Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Aug 20, 2024  3 months, 2 weeks, 5 days, 9 hours, 14 minutes ago
Medical News - Many are unaware that even an annual dosing of the anti-parasite drug Ivermectin will cause diminished Interferon gamma production that can last for a long time.
Ivermectin, a drug widely used in mass drug administration (MDA) programs in Africa to combat onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, has been under scrutiny for its effects on the immune system. Researchers from institutions including the University Clinics Tübingen-Germany, Institute for Tropical Medicine, Eberhard-Karls University in Germany, the Institut National d’Hygiene in Togo, and the Université de Paris have conducted a comprehensive study in 2022 examining the long-term impacts of ivermectin on immune responses in onchocerciasis patients treated annually for 30 years. This Medical News report delves into their findings and highlights the potential immune issues associated with prolonged ivermectin use.


Ivermectin users will likely suffer severe or Mpox infection due to diminished interferon Gamma
Image - AI generated by TMN


Understanding Ivermectin's Impact on Immunity
The study focused on patients from central Togo who have been treated with ivermectin annually for three decades. Researchers observed that while ivermectin effectively reduced the presence of Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae (mf) in the skin, it also led to significant alterations in immune function. Notably, the study found a diminished production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), a critical cytokine in the innate immune system's defense against infections, after prolonged ivermectin use.
 
Key Findings: Reduced Interferon Gamma and Altered Cytokine Responses
The research revealed that before the initiation of ivermectin treatment, patients exhibited low levels of IFN-γ when their blood cells were exposed to O. volvulus antigens. After 30 years of treatment, although the parasite-specific cytokine responses increased to levels seen in infection-free controls, the polyclonal production of IFN-γ in response to a general immune stimulant (mitogen) was significantly reduced. This suggests that while the immune system's response to the specific parasite improved, its overall ability to respond to other infections or vaccinations might be compromised.
 
In addition to IFN-γ, other immune markers were also affected. The study noted a reduction in the production of CCL17 and CCL18 chemokines, which play a role in attracting immune cells to sites of infection. This reduction in chemokine levels was particularly pronounced in elderly patients, potentially leading to weaker immune defenses as these patients age.
 
Long-Term Implications for Onchocerciasis Patients
The findings suggest that while ivermectin is effective in controlling O. volvulus infections, its long-term use could have unintended consequences on the immune system. The reduced production of key cytokines like IFN-γ and chemokines could lead to a weakened immune response, making patients more susceptibl e to other infections or reducing their ability to respond effectively to vaccinations.
 
This diminished immune responsiveness raises concerns about the long-term health of patients who have been on continuous ivermectin treatment.
 
The study findings on this study showing Ivermectin’s effect on the immune system was published in the peer reviewed journal: PLOS Neglected Tropical diseases.
https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0010340

Indian Researchers Warn That Ivermectin Use can Worsen Mpox (Monkeypox) Infections
Indian researchers in October 2023 warned that those who had annual ivermectin dosing to deal with parasite were at risk of severe or lethal Mpox infections due to the downregulation of interferon gamma.
https://journals.lww.com/iphr/fulltext/2023/55050/annual_ivermectin_treatment,_interferon_gamma,_and.12.aspx
 
Interestingly, their warnings coincided with what was happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo where thousands were getting infected and suffering severe or lethal aspects of Monkeypox infections and many had been on annual Ivermectin dosing. The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the few countries in Africa where Ivermectin use is widely promoted and in some cases even mandated on the locals.
https://bmcpharmacoltoxicol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40360-019-0327-5
 
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40435-023-01263-w
 
https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/outbreak/2023-drc.html
 
U.S. NIH Study In 2012 Funded By Anthony Fauci Showed that Interferon Gamma Deficiency Leads to Lethal Mpox Infections
A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), showed that a deficiency in gamma interferon (IFN-γ) can lead to lethal infections of the Mpox virus (MPXV). This study provided crucial insights into why certain individuals and animal models exhibit extreme susceptibility to this potentially deadly Mpox virus.
 
The Background of Mpox and Its Global Threat
Mpox, closely related to the smallpox virus, has been a significant public health concern, especially in Africa, where it is endemic. The virus, which can be transmitted from animals to humans, has caused outbreaks that resemble smallpox in severity but with lower mortality rates. However, the potential for Mpox to spread globally, especially given instances where infected animals were transported across continents, has raised alarms among health experts.
 
In this study, the focus shifts to understanding the role of IFN-γ in combatting Mpox infections. The research team from NIAID, led by Patricia L. Earl, Jeffrey L. Americo, and Bernard Moss, aimed to explore why certain strains of mice, such as the CAST/EiJ strain, are more susceptible to Mpox than others, like the BALB/c strain. The researchers believed that insights gained from these animal models could enhance our understanding of Mpox's pathogenicity in humans and improve the development of vaccines and treatments.
 
The Role of Gamma Interferon in Immune Response
Gamma interferon (IFN-γ) is a critical component of the immune system, known for its role in activating macrophages and enhancing the antigen presentation process. It is essential for the immune response against various viral infections, including those caused by poxviruses. The study conducted by the NIH researchers demonstrated that a robust IFN-γ response is necessary to contain Mpox infections and prevent their spread within the body.
 
The researchers compared virus replication and immune responses in two different strains of mice: the highly susceptible CAST/EiJ strain and the more resistant BALB/c strain. They found that while both strains exhibited virus replication in the lungs following intranasal infection, the CAST/EiJ mice displayed rapid and widespread dissemination of the virus to other organs, leading to severe disease and death. In contrast, the BALB/c mice, which mounted a strong IFN-γ response, restricted the virus primarily to the lungs and ultimately survived the infection.
 
Key Study Findings: The Impact of IFN-γ Deficiency
One of the study's key findings is that the CAST/EiJ mice failed to induce adequate levels of IFN-γ in response to Mpox infection. This deficiency in IFN-γ production was linked to the uncontrolled spread of the virus to vital organs, leading to lethal outcomes. Interestingly, the researchers observed that while the CAST/EiJ mice produced some IFN-γ in the spleen, it was not enough to control the infection effectively.
 
To further investigate the protective role of IFN-γ, the researchers administered exogenous IFN-γ to CAST/EiJ mice before and during Mpox infection. Remarkably, this treatment significantly reduced virus levels in the lungs and prevented mortality. These results underscore the importance of IFN-γ in the body's defense against Mpox and suggest that enhancing IFN-γ responses could be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating severe cases of Mpox.
 
Implications for Human Health and Future Research
The findings from this study have significant implications for understanding Mpox infections in humans. While the study was conducted in mice, the researchers believe that similar mechanism