title: Effects of long-term zidovudine treatment on cell-mediated immune response and lymphokine production.
abstract: The effects of long-term zidovudine treatment on functional parameters of cell-mediated immunity were investigated in 15 symptomatic HIV-antibody-positive patients with clinical evidence of opportunistic infections. Mononuclear leukocytes were obtained before administering the drug, and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. The cells were stimulated with lectins in order to assess variations of mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and production of gamma-interferon (IFN) and interleukin-2 (IL-2), and with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) to assess variations of alpha-IFN production. Mean proliferative responses to PHA and Con-A did not show any significant change between baseline, 3 months, and 6 months values (25,158 +/- 11,763, 24,662 +/- 8,955, and 34,924 +/- 16,283 D-cpm, respectively, for PHA, p greater than 0.05; and 5,470 +/- 1,890, 4,953 +/- 2,518, and 4,539 +/- 3,286 D-cpm, respectively, for Con-A, p less than 0.05). Mean response to PWM (9,707 +/- 4,429 D-cpm at entry) increased significantly after 3 months, but returned to baseline values at 6 months (17,039 +/- 5,123 and 10,314 +/- 3,855 D-cpm, respectively, p = 0.016). IL-2 production (5.51 +/- 4.0 I.U. at entry) rose particularly at 3 months and persisted at the same levels at 6 months (9.6 +/- 4.8 and 9.5 +/- 6 I.U., respectively, p less than 0.05). By contrast, a moderate but significant decrease in gamma- and alpha-IFN production was observed (65 +/- 2.2, 35.1 +/- 1.6, and 22 +/- 2 I.U., respectively, for gamma-IFN, p less than 0.05; 60 +/- 3, 64 +/- 2.6, and 12 +/- 1.5 I.U., respectively for alpha-IFN, p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biglino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Forno
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pollono
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Busso
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gioannini
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015215:Zidovudine; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007372:Interferons