Influence of methisoprinol (isoprinosine) on HIV-infected human lymphocytes: in vitro immunological, virological, and ultrastructural studies.
Methisoprinol (isoprinosine) is a synthetic compound with reported antiviral and immunomodulating properties. Results of the present study showed that methisoprinol at concentrations greater than or equal to 200 micrograms/ml reduces the p24 and gp120 viral antigen expression on the surface of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected lymphocytes and the reverse transcriptase levels. In addition, cell viability, the number of the CD4+ cells, and the CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio are higher in methisoprinol-pretreated cell suspensions than in untreated HIV-infected cell cultures. A quantitative freeze-fracture study on the density of the intramembranous particles (IMP) present on both fracture faces of the plasma membrane of lymphocytes has shown that pretreatment with methisoprinol induces a different molecular organization resulting in a nearly three times increase of IMP density.
De Simone
C
C
Insegnamento Malattie Infective, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila, Italy.
De Marco
F
F
Arancia
G
G
Tzantzoglou
S
S
Paradisi
S
S
Sorice
F
F
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D000328:Adult; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007288:Inosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D007542:Inosine Pranobex / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron
D007288:Inosine; D007542:Inosine Pranobex