title: In-vivo effect of interleukin 3 and erythropoietin, either alone or in combination, on the hematopoietic toxicity associated with zidovudine.
abstract: We studied the effect of erythropoietin (EPO) and interleukin 3 (IL-3), either alone or in combination, on the hematopoietic toxicity associated with zidovudine in vivo, as determined by peripheral blood indices, and assay of hematopoietic progenitors, i.e. erythroid (CFU-E/BFU-E), myeloid (CFU-GM) and megakaryocyte (CFU-Meg) from bone marrow and spleen. Previous studies from this laboratory have established that dose escalation of zidovudine to normal mice induced a dose-dependent decrease in hematocrit, white blood cells and platelets with altered populations of marrow and splenic erythroid, myeloid and megakaryocyte progenitors. Daily administration of EPO (50 U/animal, i.p.) and/or IL-3 (5 U/animal, i.p.) was associated with altered peripheral blood indices and progenitor cells. In general, use of EPO and IL-3 alone reduced zidovudine-induced toxicity, notably in erythropoiesis; however, combination EPO/IL-3 was associated with enhanced toxicity with an observed rebound only with the use of < 2.5 mg/ml drug; 2.5 mg/ml drug in the presence of combination EPO/IL-3 accelerated zidovudine-erythroid toxicity. A similar response was noted with circulating platelets and megakaryocyte progenitors. Use of EPO or IL-3, either alone or in combination, failed to reverse zidovudine-induced neutropenia. These studies demonstrate that use of EPO or IL-3, either alone or in combination may serve as an effective adjuvant therapy to modulate the erythroid toxicity associated with lower doses of zidovudine; however, this cytokine therapy was ineffective modulating zidovudine-induced myelosuppression when used in vivo. A reversal in zidovudine-induced myeloid toxicity, therefore may require the use of a myelopoiesis inducing cytokine.
authors: Department of Medicine, Lucille P. Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington 40536-0084.
authors: V S
authors: VS
authors: Gallicchio
authors: N K
authors: NK
authors: Hughes
authors: K F
authors: KF
authors: Tse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D007377:Interleukin-3; D004921:Erythropoietin; D015215:Zidovudine