Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019693 (HIV)
 170,526 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Five young male patients with HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) were treated with recombinant interferon alpha 2a (rIFN-alpha-2a) over a period of 2-2.5 years. An IFN dose of 18 x 10(6) IU was given subcutaneously every day during the first 3 months of treatment and then on alternate days. Additional treatment with radiotherapy and laser therapy was given and, in some cases, isolated skin nodules were excised. Within 7 months of initiation of therapy one patient had a complete remission of his tumours, however, tumour progression recurred after the patient discontinued treatment. In another patient the tumour cleared within 9 months of rIFN therapy, and after 52 months he is still free of KS. The condition of a third patient tended to become stabilized during the first 6 months of therapy, but after 60 months there has been a slow progression. The fourth and fifth patients died 25 and 28 months, respectively, after the histological diagnosis of KS and the initiation of treatment. While on therapy with rIFN-alpha-2a, no life-threatening opportunistic infections occurred. The side-effects were mostly well tolerated, and no severe changes in haematological parameters were caused by the therapy.
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PMID:Long-term therapy of HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma with recombinant interferon alpha-2a. 182 74

Serum samples of 120 patients in different stages of chronic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, 11 patients with primary HIV-1 infection (PHI), and 49 HIV-1 seronegative homosexual men were analyzed for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), and HIV-1 p24 antigen. Increased levels of IFN-alpha and TNF-alpha were found in some, but not all, cases with PHI. During progressing disease IFN-alpha occurred in serum with increasing frequency and concentration. Raised levels of TNF-alpha were found in all stages of chronic infection, but were less common in patients with AIDS than were raised levels of IFN-alpha. The levels of the two substances were not correlated. There was a correlation between IFN-alpha, but not TNF-alpha, and the occurrence of HIV-1 p24 antigen in serum. These results suggest that IFN-alpha and TNF-alpha are induced by different agents during HIV-1 infection. The findings would be consistent with the hypothesis that IFN-alpha and TNF-alpha are counteracting forces that have important down- and upregulatory effects, respectively, on HIV-1 replication in vivo.
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PMID:Interferon-alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in serum of patients in various stages of HIV-1 infection. 190 89

We have evaluated the TNF production by alveolar macrophages (AM) in 43 HIV-infected subjects in relation with 1) their clinical and biologic status; 2) the presence of lung opportunistic infections (OI); and 3) the expression of HIV by AM. This production was assessed in a standard chromium release test, using monocytic U937 cells as targets. The spontaneous TNF production by AM from patients without lung OI was higher than that from seronegative controls (p less than 0.02). This production by AM was similar to that of blood monocytes, suggesting that it was not related, in these subjects, to any particular lung status. The extent of TNF release by AM was correlated to the presence of a lymphocytic alveolitis (p less than 0.05), and not to the patients' clinical presentation nor to their CD4 cell count. Finally, AM from these subjects could be normally stimulated in vitro by IFN-gamma. On the other hand, it appeared that the spontaneous TNF release by AM shown in vitro to express HIV (p24+ AM) was significantly higher than that by their p24- counterparts (p less than 0.05) and by controls (p less than 0.01). In addition, contrasting with the marked increase of TNF release by p24- AM after their stimulation with IFN-gamma (p less than 0.001), p24+ AM appeared to be refractory to any stimulation by IFN, arguing for their activation in vivo. Finally, the spontaneous TNF release by AM was significantly increased during lung OI, compared with controls (p less than 0.01) as well as with AIDS patients without OI (p less than 0.01). In addition, the production of TNF by AM in these subjects was higher than that by the corresponding blood monocytes (p less than 0.02), suggesting a compartmentalization of this response within the lungs. In conclusion, it appears that the TNF production by AM of seropositive patients is highly related to the presence of lung OI as well as to the expression of HIV by these cells. In the context of the up-regulation of HIV expression induced by TNF in vitro, our data could suggest that the in vivo release of TNF by AM could participate in viral dissemination. Moreover, we hypothesize that the generation of activated AM refractory to any further stimulation could in turn lead to the development of additional pulmonary infections.
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PMID:Tumor necrosis factor production in HIV-seropositive subjects. Relationship with lung opportunistic infections and HIV expression in alveolar macrophages. 190

Cells of the monocyte lineage act as a major reservoir for HIV, and ways of enhancing the resistance of mononuclear phagocytes to HIV replication would be useful for delaying the onset of AIDS in infected individuals. Seif et al. (J. Virol. 65:664, 1991) have recently shown the possibility of obtaining stable antiviral expression (SAVE), directed against three nonretroviral RNA viruses, and normal cell viability in a significant percentage of murine BALB/c 3T3 cells transformed with an IFN-beta expression plasmid under the control of the 0.6-kb XhoII-NruI promoter region of the murine H-2Kb MHC gene. In the present paper, we show that it is possible to establish SAVE in human promonocytic cells. Cells of the human promonocytic U937 line were stably transfected with a human IFN-beta expression plasmid carrying the neo- and human IFN-beta-coding sequences under the control of the H-2Kb promoter fragment previously used in murine cells. After selection with G418, two transformed clones were isolated that released small amounts of human IFN-beta into the culture medium, without affecting the expression of CD4 and leucocyte function-associated Ag-1 differentiation Ag. The presence of construct-derived IFN-beta mRNA was demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction amplification of cDNA, and the level of 2-5A synthetase, one of the major IFN-induced antiviral proteins, was shown to be constitutively increased. These clones were less permissive for HIV-1 than control clones transformed with the neo gene only. The antiviral state could be modulated by anti-IFN-beta antibodies, in that the continuous presence of antibodies in the culture medium abolished the enhanced resistance to HIV-1 replication, whereas the withdrawal of the antiserum restored the antiviral state, indicating that it did indeed result from the constitutive synthesis of human IFN-beta. These results demonstrate the possibility of restricting HIV-1 replication in human promonocytic cells by establishing SAVE. Further exploration of this method as a possible approach to somatic cell gene therapy of HIV infection appears worthwhile.
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PMID:Enhanced resistance to HIV-1 replication in U937 cells stably transfected with the human IFN-beta gene behind an MHC promoter fragment. 194 Mar 55

alpha-Interferon (IFN alpha) blocks replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 in vitro by interfering with the release of mature virions. Clinical trials have addressed the in vivo effects of IFN alpha, both alone and in combination with other agents, in a variety of patients at all stages of HIV-1 infection. Patients with late stages of HIV-1 infection (CD4 counts under 100) show few positive results following treatment with IFN alpha. Patients with earlier stages of HIV infection, however, may benefit from treatment with this agent. Several clinical trials have demonstrated the activity of interferon in the treatment of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, Kaposi's sarcoma, and CD4 counts over 200. In these trials, response rates of approximately 40% have been reported, with the probability of response directly correlated with the level of CD4 cells. These antitumor effects have been associated with declines in the circulating levels of the HIV-1 core antigen p24. alpha-Interferon activity has also been studied in patients concomitantly receiving zidovudine. In these studies, neutropenia, reversible with the concomitant administration of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, has been the most common dose-limiting toxicity. Both the antitumor and antiviral activities of combination therapy appear to be at least as good as those observed when single agents are used. Controlled clinical trials are currently under way to evaluate the role of interferon therapy, both alone and in combination with zidovudine, in patients with early HIV infection.
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PMID:The role of alpha-interferon in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. 194 29

Cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF) can induce HIV-1 production in T-cell tumour lines. However, it is not known if the same occurs in freshly isolated mononuclear cells, nor is it known if the virus can itself regulate cellular cytokine production. In this paper we report that HIV-1 induces peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and CD4+ T lymphocytes to secrete TNF alpha, TNF beta and interferon-gamma (IFN gamma), three cytokines having multifunctional activities and complex physiological roles. We also show that separate addition of exogenous recombinant (r) TNF alpha or rTNF beta or rIFN gamma increases HIV-1-induced syncytium formation in both PBMC and CD4+ cells by up to 10,000-fold, with TNF alpha being most potent in this regard. Finally, we show that syncytium formation induced by diverse HIV-1 isolates and LAV-2 is inhibited without the addition of exogenous r-cytokines by the respective anti-cytokine antibodies. Our study therefore demonstrates that efficient HIV replication in primary mononuclear cells is associated with the ability of the virus to induce TNF and IFN gamma secretion.
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PMID:Tumour necrosis factors (alpha, beta) induced by HIV-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells potentiate virus replication. 196 79

The susceptibility of HIV-1-infected CD4+ T cell lines to natural killer (NK) cell-mediated lysis was examined. Non-adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy adults lysed HUT cells chronically infected with the IIIB or WMJ1 strains of HIV-1 to a significantly greater extent than uninfected HUT cells. In contrast, Sup-T1 cells chronically infected with these two strains of HIV-1 were not lysed to a greater extent than uninfected Sup-T1 cells. Clone A1.25-infected Sup-T1 (A1.25/Sup-T1), derived from IIIB-infected Sup-T1 cells (IIIB/Sup-T1), were susceptible to non-adherent PBMC-mediated lysis, as were A1.25-infected HUT cells (A1.25/HUT). When non-adherent PBMC were depleted of CD16 (Leu-11b)+ NK cells by treatment with anti-Leu-11b plus C, lysis of HIV-1-infected HUT or Sup-T1 cells was reduced to low levels, indicating that the lysis was mediated by NK cells. Expression of HIV antigens on these target cells did not correlate with their susceptibility to NK cell-mediated lysis. Depletion of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) producing HLA-DR+ cells from non-adherent PBMC had no effect on the magnitude of NK cell-mediated lysis of IIIB or WMJ1-infected HUT cells. In contrast, lysis of A1.25/Sup-T1 or A1.25/HUT cells required the presence of HLA-DR+ cells. IFN-alpha production appeared to be required for NK cell-mediated lysis of A1.25/Sup-T1 or A1.25/HUT cells, while lysis of HUT cells infected with the WMJ1 or IIIB strains of HIV-1 was IFN-alpha independent. These results indicate considerable variability in the susceptibility of different HIV-1 infected T cell lines to NK cell-mediated lysis and suggest the existence of alternative mechanisms of activation of NK cells for lysis of HIV-1-infected T cell lines.
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PMID:Natural killer cell-mediated lysis of T cell lines chronically infected with HIV-1. 196 36

In a survey of 15 different virus isolates, no IFN-alpha or IFN-beta activity was detected in culture fluids of HIV-infected T cells or monocytes. Exogenous rIFN-alpha added to T lymphoblast or monocyte cultures induced restriction in replication of the amphotropic HIV that infect both cell types. With IFN-treated HIV-infected T cells, levels of reverse transcriptase (RT) activity in culture fluids were half those in control cultures, but the frequency of infected cells or the levels of p24 Ag released in culture fluids were unchanged. In contrast to the modest effect of IFN on HIV-infected T cells, IFN-induced antiviral activity in monocytes was quite dramatic. Monocytes treated with IFN at the time of virus challenge showed no evidence of HIV infection: no p24 Ag or RT activity, no viral mRNA, and no proviral DNA. In this system, IFN interrupts one or more early event(s) in the virus replication cycle before formation of proviral DNA. Monocyte cultures infected with HIV 7 days before IFN treatment showed a gradual decrease in levels of p24 Ag and RT activity to baseline by 3 wk. HIV-induced cytopathic changes were markedly reduced, and the frequency of productively infected cells was less than or equal to 1% of total cells. Virus particles released 24 h after IFN treatment were 100- to 1000-fold less infectious than equal numbers of control virions. But, monocytes treated with IFN 7 days after HIV infection were not free of the retroviral pathogen: levels of proviral DNA in the IFN-treated and control HIV-infected cells were indistinguishable. The presence of large quantities of proviral DNA in cells with little or no evidence for active transcription documents a situation approaching true microbiological latency.
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PMID:Regulation of HIV replication in infected monocytes by IFN-alpha. Mechanisms for viral restriction. 197 1

The effectiveness of addition of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) to zidovudine in patients with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma was assessed in a non-randomized, phase II clinical trial. Twenty-one patients were treated with oral zidovudine (600 mg daily) and IFN-alpha was increased to 18 MU daily for another 4 weeks. Only one of the 20 evaluable patients achieved a partial response at 8 weeks, that lasted for 3 months. Despite IFN-alpha dose escalation in six patients, no further responses were seen. While myelotoxicity was mild, fatigue was the dose-limiting side-effect that prevented dose escalation in seven eligible patients. The combined treatment did not result in a decrease in HIV-Ag. In summary, our results indicate that the addition of IFN-alpha to zidovudine in patients with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma is not an efficacious treatment.
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PMID:Combined zidovudine and interferon-alpha treatment in patients with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma. 199 61

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were determined in the serum of 14 HIV-1-infected patients with Kaposi's sarcoma, 10 HIV-1-infected patients without symptoms, and 10 healthy male subjects. IL-6 levels were also determined in the serum of the 14 patients with Kaposi's sarcoma during treatment with high-dose human recombinant interferon-alpha (IFN alpha). Serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the patients with Kaposi's sarcoma than in the HIV-infected patients without symptoms and the controls. There was no consistent pattern of changes of IL-6 levels during IFN alpha treatment. These results support the view that IL-6 is a cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma, but appear to argue against an effect of IFN alpha on the production or release of IL-6 as an important mechanism of action of IFN alpha.
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PMID:Interleukin-6 concentrations in the serum of patients with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma during treatment with interferon-alpha. 204 63


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