Ingenol Protects Human T Cells From HIV-1 Infection.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Many natural compounds have been investigated as drug candidates to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with low cytotoxicity. We tested whether ingenol from Euphorbia ingens exerts anti-HIV effects in human T cell lines.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Ingenol effectively maintained high cell viability (CD50, >1 mM) in H9 and MT4 T cells. The efficacy of ingenol to inhibit HIV-1 infection was dose dependent. ED50 for 100 and 200 TCID50 of HIV-1 was 5.06 and 16.87 μM, respectively. Gag p24 antigen production in ingenol-treated MT4 cells was reduced by 24.5% on day 6 post-infection. While p24 antigen was reduced in ingenol-treated cells, levels of cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 and chemokines such as RANTES and MCP-1 were increased. dUTP level related to late apoptotic events was increased on day 2 post-infection of HIV by ingenol treatment, whereas expression of annexin V was unchanged. Reduced levels of iNOS and ZAP-70 after HIV infection were recovered by ingenol treatment.

CONCLUSION:

Ingenol helps T cells to survive longer against viremia after HIV-1 infection, without exerting cytotoxic effects. Ingenol can be considered a safe and efficacious candidate for immune-boosting therapy for AIDS patients.

• Authors: Kee-Jong Hong, Hak Sung Lee, Yeong-Shik Kim, Sung Soon Kim
• Journal: Osong public health and research perspectives (Osong Public Health Res Perspect) Vol. 2 Issue 2 Pg. 109-14 (Sep 2011) ISSN: 2210-9099 [Print] Korea (South)
• PMID: 24159460 (Publication Type: Journal Article)