Zidovudine therapy is associated with an increased capacity of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated cells to express interleukin-2 receptors. Pittsburgh AIDS Clinical Trial Unit.
Zidovudine therapy of AIDS patients has been shown to cause only transient improvements in the numbers of circulating CD4+ cells and the in vitro functional activities of cultured lymphocytes. The present studies were undertaken to determine whether prolonged zidovudine therapy enhanced reactivity in two sensitive assays of T-cell function: the ability of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated cells to form T-cell colonies and their capacity to express receptors for the growth factor interleukin-2 (IL-2). Treated patients, studied over periods of 20-60 weeks, showed no improvement in colony formation at any time interval, even in plates supplemented with exogenous IL-2. However, mitogen-stimulated T lymphocytes showed a significant increase in the capacity to express IL-2 receptors (CD25). This enhanced expression resulted primarily from activation of the CD8+ cell subset.
McMahon
D K
DK
Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA.
Winkelstein
A
A
Armstrong
J A
JA
Pazin
G J
GJ
Hawk
H
H
Ho
M
M
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D015215:Zidovudine