title: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and synthetic DHEA analogs are modest inhibitors of HIV-1 IIIB replication.
abstract: Down-regulation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induced transformation of human lymphocytes in vitro by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a naturally occurring human steroid secreted by the adrenal gland has been demonstrated. This article reports on the effects of DHEA and its novel synthetic analogs 16 alpha-fluoro-5-androsten-17-one (8354) and 3 beta-hydroxy-16 alpha-fluoro-5 alpha-androstan-17-one (OH8356) on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) replication. Treatment with DHEA, 8354, or OH8356 resulted in a modest down-regulation of HIV-1 replication in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes as measured by syncytia formation, release of p24 antigen, and accumulation of reverse transcriptase activity. DHEA and 8354 also reduced syncytia formation in HIV-1-infected SupT1 lymphoblasts. DHEA and synthetic analogs of DHEA, which have been shown previously to have antiproliferative effects, now are shown to reduce HIV-1 replication. DHEA or synthetic analogs of DHEA could provide an alternative and/or adjuvant for HIV-1 infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000736:Androstenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000378:metabolism; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; C066783:16-fluoro-5-androsten-17-one; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; C076333:OH 8356; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase