THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY

1230 YORK AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10021

 

JOSHUA LEDERBERG July 28, 1988

PRESIDENT

Dr. Leonard Solon
Department of Health
Bureau of Radiation Control .-

65 Worth et Tl Kevesr_aghsr. SF (20th)
New vorK, Aw York 10013 brerdlee, i 41 a20/
Dear Leonard:

Thank you for yours of July 25th.

I was glad to see the update on radio protectants
you sent me. There is a sporadic literature, as you
doubtless know, about using WR2721 and other protectants
as adjuncts to focussed radiation in therapy.

Our common wisdom about military matters is that
deterrence is all. You are in danger of being accused
of nuclear war-mongering if you reopen discussions of
civil defense and the like -- or is it one of your
statutory responsibilities to worry about rescuing
survivors from nuclear attack in New York City?

As to your more concrete question about applying >
these agents in HIV: I suppose the nexus of rationale
is protecting the immune system. My own understanding
of mechanism is limited but from what I can see the
protectants act at the chemical level of radiation
injury (mopping up free radicals etc.) and it is hard
to see how there would be any relationship with that
and the biological attack on the immune system that
follows upon HIV infection. I suppose one could argue
that anything is worth trying and peroxide-mediated
cytocide may be involved. The place to direct such
suggestions would then be to Dr. Anthony Fauci at the
NIAID.

Glad to hear from you.
x. sincerely,

Jgshua Lederberg