Effect of a recombinant CD4-IgG on in vitro T helper cell function: data from a phase I/II study of patients with AIDS.
Ten patients with AIDS were enrolled in a phase I/II protocol of recombinant CD4-IgG (rCD4-IgG) treatment. Patients' peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) were tested before, during, and after therapy with rCD4-IgG for T helper (TH) cell function assessed by antigen- and mitogen-stimulated proliferation and interleukin-2 production in response to influenza A virus, allogeneic PBL (alloantigens), and phytohemagglutinin. Although clinical benefit was not evident, rCD4-IgG treatment was associated with rapid and potent improved TH cell function for two of three stimuli tested in 90% of the patients. These data are complemented by an in vitro experimental model that demonstrates the opposing immunologic effects of rgp120 and rCD4-IgG on TH cell function of PBL from uninfected individuals. Thus, restoration of TH cell function by rCD4-IgG in the absence of increased CD4 cell counts could be due to removal of an immunosuppressive factor, possibly gp120. These findings suggest that rCD4-IgG can induce partial restoration of immune function in AIDS patients, even in the absence of apparent short-term clinical benefit.
Clerici
M
M
Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Yarchoan
R
R
Blatt
S
S
Hendrix
C W
CW
Ammann
A J
AJ
Broder
S
S
Shearer
G M
GM
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000633:toxicity*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000633:toxicity*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins