title: In vitro inhibition of the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 by beta-mercaptoethylamine (cysteamine).
abstract: This study investigates the effects of cysteamine alone and in association with zidovudine or didanosine on the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). More than 90% viral inhibition was obtained by 200 microM cysteamine in lymphocytes and 100 microM cysteamine in macrophages against 4 primary isolates and 2 laboratory strains of HIV-1. Polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that cysteamine interferes with early steps of HIV-1 replication, before proviral DNA formation. The use of cysteamine in conjunction with zidovudine or didanosine brought about an additive antiviral effect without concomitant increases in toxicity. The concentrations of cysteamine that are effective against HIV-1 in vitro have been well tolerated over long periods by patients under treatment for cystinosis, an inherited disorder. These observations suggest that cysteamine alone or in combination with zidovudine or didanosine could be a new potential treatment of HIV-1 infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Cellular Biology, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergamini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mancino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capozzi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Placido
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salanitro
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cappannoli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Faggioli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stoler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rocchi
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology; D003543:Cysteamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D016049:Didanosine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D015215:Zidovudine; D003543:Cysteamine; D016049:Didanosine