HIV replication can be blocked by recombinant human interferon beta.
Recombinant human interferon beta (rIFN-beta) reduces replication of HIV in cultured peripheral mononuclear cells. The effect is most pronounced when high levels of the drug are employed. Maintenance of the rIFN-beta in culture is required since removal of the agent generally leads to a return of virus production by the infected cells. Moreover, at low concentrations of the drug, a breakthrough in HIV replication is observed. High concentrations of the rIFN-beta (greater than 100 units/ml) were cytotoxic for transformed T cells. This latter observations suggests that rIFN-beta might be useful in human T-cell malignancies. Beta interferon therefore might be useful for the treatment of HIV infection, particularly since side effects of the drug are limited in treated individuals.
Michaelis
B
B
Cancer Research Institute, University of California, School of Medicine, San Francisco 94143.
Levy
J A
JA
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006678:HIV / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000382:microbiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D014779:Virus Replication
D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins