Oxophenarsine, an antisyphilis drug inhibits HIV-1-specific protein synthesis in acutely and persistently infected lymphocytes.
The development of drugs that can inhibit both acute and persistent anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is a major goal in the treatment of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Most of the anti-HIV-1 drugs reported thus far, such as azidothymidine (AZT), inhibit acute HIV-1 infection but have no antiviral effect against persistent infection. We report here that oxophenarsine (3-amino-4 hydroxyphenylarsineoxide hydrochloride), an antisyphilus drug inhibits HIV-1 production in acutely infected peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and persistently infected T cells. In acutely infected PBL and H9 T cells, the drug is effective at concentrations as low as 0.07-0.15 micrograms/ml with no significant cytotoxicity at concentrations of 6.0 micrograms/ml or below. It does not inhibit HIV-1 reverse transcriptase at doses up to 60 micrograms/ml. The drug has no effect on HIV-1-specific DNA and RNA synthesis. However, it inhibits HIV-1 protein synthesis in both acutely and persistently infected cells.
Gupta
P
P
Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA.
Balachandran
R
R
Thampatty
P
P
Rinaldo
C
C
Ho
M
M
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001152:Arsenicals; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins; C100059:oxophenarsine