Induction of monocyte proliferation and HIV expression by IL-3 does not interfere with anti-viral activity of zidovudine.
Myelosuppression is a major symptom in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Moreover zidovudine, an anti-retroviral drug used to treat AIDS patients has myelosuppressive side effects. Therefore treatment with IL-3, a multi-lineage hemopoietic growth factor may be beneficial for zidovudine-treated individuals. In this study we examined the effect of IL-3 on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) expression. The proliferative response to rIL-3 and the effects on the replication of the monocytotropic HIV variant, HTLV-III Ba-L, in the absence or presence of the anti-retroviral drug zidovudine was studied in purified human peripheral blood monocytes. Zidovudine concentrations sufficient for complete inhibition of HIV replication did not affect rIL-3 induced monocyte proliferation. Although rIL-3, like rGM-CSF, was able to augment HIV expression in monocytes, it did not interfere with the anti-retroviral activity of zidovudine. These data indicate that rIL-3 is a potential candidate for use in myelosupportive therapy in AIDS patients treated with anti-retroviral drugs.
Schuitemaker
H
H
Central Laboratory, The Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Kootstra
N A
NA
van Oers
M H
MH
van Lambalgen
R
R
Tersmette
M
M
Miedema
F
F
D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007377:Interleukin-3; D015215:Zidovudine