Inhibition of HIV replication in vitro by clinical immunosuppressants and chemotherapeutic agents.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Recent studies have suggested that a functional cure for HIV-1 infection, purportedly resultant from allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, may be possible. Additionally, the first such patient was treated with whole-body irradiation, immunosuppressants, and the chemotherapeutic, cytarabine. However, the precise role of the coinciding medical interventions in diminishing detectable HIV reservoirs remains unstudied.

FINDINGS:

In this article, we demonstrate that the immunosuppressants, mycophenolic acid and cyclosporine, and the chemotherapeutic, cytarabine, are potent antiretroviral agents at clinically relevant dosages. These drugs strongly inhibit HIV-1 replication in a GFP indicator T cell line and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study suggests that certain clinical immunosuppressants and chemotherapeutic agents may act combinatorially to inhibit HIV infection. Additionally, chemotherapy-mediated cytotoxicity may also affect the stability of viral reservoirs. Thus, further study is needed to examine potential therapeutic value of these interventions in patients.

• Authors: Todd Hawley, Mark Spear, Jia Guo, Yuntao Wu
• Journal: Cell & bioscience (Cell Biosci) Vol. 3 Issue 1 Pg. 22 (May 14 2013) ISSN: 2045-3701 [Print] England
• PMID: 23672887 (Publication Type: Journal Article)