Decreased plasma membrane fluidity of peripheral blood lymphocytes after diethyldithiocarbamate (DTC) therapy in HIV-infected patients.
In seeking the putative mechanism of action of diethyldithiocarbamate (DTC) on the immune status of HIV infected patients, the plasma membrane fluidity of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from DTC-treated and untreated patients (CDC III-IVc1) was determined. Anisotropy values of the fluorescent probe 6-(9-anthroyloxy) stearic acid were increased in DTC-treated patients (0.175 vs 0.161), indicating decreased PBL plasma membrane fluidity. The membrane rigidifying effect was significantly greater 4 h after i.v. drug administration (0.185 in treated patients). As the membrane fluidity and the function of membrane embedded antigen are interdependent, it is possible that alterations in biophysical and/or biochemical properties of membranes may account for the beneficial effect of DTC on the immune function and clinical status of HIV infected patients.
Lehr
H A
HA
Clinical Department, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
Zimmer
J P
JP
Hübner
C
C
Reisinger
E C
EC
Kohlschütter
A
A
Claussen
M
M
Schmitz
H
H
Dietrich
M
M
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D004161:Diphenylhexatriene; D004050:Ditiocarb / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013229:Stearic Acids
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D013229:Stearic Acids; D004161:Diphenylhexatriene; C030310:12-(9-anthroyl)stearic acid; D004050:Ditiocarb