title: Immune-associated toxicities induced by in vivo and in vitro exposure to interferon-alpha alone or in combination with nucleoside analogs.
abstract: The present studies examine whether immune-associated toxicities develop in rodents exposed to recombinant human interferon-alpha A/D (rHuIFN-alpha) alone or in combination with anti-retroviral nucleoside analogs. Four findings have emerged from these studies: (1) lymphocyte cell number and functional activity are suppressed after subchronic (1, 8 or 10 day) in vivo exposure to therapeutic doses of rHuIFN-alpha; (2) lymphocyte-associated toxicities lessen as in vivo exposure time to rHuIFN-alpha is extended; (3) T-cell-dependent antibody production is decreased after in vitro exposure of both antigen-specific T- and B-cells to rHuIFN-alpha; and (4) in vivo-induced leukocyte toxicities associated with either rHuIFN-alpha or the nucleoside analogs alone do not synergize when the therapies are combined. These data suggest that certain key immune parameters should be monitored carefully in the early stages of IFN-alpha therapy.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Systems Toxicity Branch, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Powell-Oliver
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Germolec
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Luster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016047:Zalcitabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015215:Zidovudine; D016047:Zalcitabine