title: Effect of d-fenfluramine on the lymphocyte response of HIV+ humans.
abstract: The objective of this study was to analyse the effect of d-dexfenfluramine (d-FEN) on the human lymphocyte response, in vitro. Experiments were designed to determine whether d-FEN augments specific human immune parameters associated with protection from opportunistic microbial pathogens and particularly focuses on d-FEN as a means by which to augment the function of CD8+ and CD4+ lymphocytes. Lymphocytes were examined for three reasons: (1) for their ability to inhibit the growth of Candida albicans; (2) for their ability to proliferate in response to a mitogen; and, (3) their cytokine profile (vis., production of IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained from 20 HIV+ patients. The patients were diagnosed as HIV+ within the past 0.5-9 years. d-FEN was found to augment the capacity of CD8+ lymphocytes to inhibit the growth of the opportunistic microbial pathogen, C. albicans. d-FEN enhanced the capacity of CD4+ lymphocytes to proliferate in response to the mitogen, Concanavalin A, and to increase the amount of IL-2 produced by CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes from AIDS patients. d-FEN increased the number of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes that produced IFN-gamma from either non-AIDS or AIDS patients and increased the number of AIDS patient's CD8+ lymphocytes that produce TNF-alpha. These in vitro data suggest that d-FEN may be effective in enhancing immune function in immunocompromised individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goral
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamura
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clancy
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lorens
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio / Q000187:drug effects; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D003208:Concanavalin A; D005277:Fenfluramine; D007371:Interferon-gamma