Faculty Bibliography

The antiviral effect of the immunomodulating anti-cancer agent, bestatin, was examined in vitro by exposing MT-4 lymphocytes to HIV in the presence of 10-fold dilutions of drug (range 100 micrograms-100 pg/ml). The reduction in infectivity was measured by p24 ELISA and compared to the effect of established anti-HIV drugs-azidothymidine (AZT) and dextran sulfate. The results indicate that low doses of bestatin (1 microgram/ml) can completely inhibit viral infection resulting either from inoculation with free virus or coculture with infected lymphocytes. Unlike AZT or dextran sulfate, bestatin prevents HIV infection without interfering with the rate of cell growth. No appreciable decrease in HIV production was observed when chronically infected virus-producing T cell lines ie, H9, MOLT-4, HPB-ALL, 8E5 and MT-2 were treated with bestatin. Bestatin appears to act in the early stages of viral penetration, possibly through inhibition of lymphocyte-associated aminopeptidases

Gramicidin, cation channel forming ionophore with antibacterial properties, was studied in vitro for inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of MT-4 lymphocytes. Effective antiviral concentrations required for complete HIV inactivation were three orders of magnitude lower than 10 micrograms/ml cytotoxic dose. Gramicidin, routinely used as a contraceptive agent, should be considered for clinical application as a spermicide with antiviral activity

A distinct clinical syndrome of cholestasis and hepatitis occurred during early infancy in seven infants with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection. In five infants hepatitis was the first manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection. The median age of onset of hepatitis was 7 months (range, 5 to 10 months). The mean total bilirubin concentration at presentation was 7.4 mg/dl (range, 3.9 to 11 mg/dl), the mean aspartate aminotransferase was 1512 IU/liter (range, 782 to 2960 IU/liter) and the mean alanine amino-transferase 512 IU/liter (range, 92 to 1247 IU/liter). The absolute CD4 count at the time of onset of hepatitis ranged from 191 to 2298 cells/mm3 (mean, 766 cells/mm3). Six of the seven children died within 12 weeks of onset of hepatitis, three as a result of complications of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, and two died of complications secondary to cytomegalovirus. In only one infant was the cause of death the direct consequence of liver failure. The seventh infant died 17 months after the onset of hepatitis of dilated cardiomyopathy. No specific etiologic agent has been identified as the cause of cholestatic hepatitis in these infants. In situ hybridization studies to detect human immunodeficiency virus 1 messenger RNA was negative in the liver tissue obtained at biopsy and autopsy in five of the samples tested

This investigation compares the results of a new method of diagnosing HIV-1 infection in infants < 6 months of age with currently employed techniques including cocultivation, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), serum p24 antigen, and in vitro antibody production (IVAP) measurements. The new method, called in vitro antigen (IVAG), measures p24 antigen released into culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells that are incubated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). No activated donor lymphocytes or interleukin 2 (IL-2) are added to the culture. Using this technique, HIV-1 infection was detected in 15 of 17 HIV-1-infected infants < 2 months of age, including 3 of 7 infants tested at birth, and 15 of 15 HIV-1-infected infants between 2 and 6 months of age. None of 83 determinations of 15 uninfected infants were positive. These results were found to be comparable to results obtained by the traditional cocultivation technique and the polymerase chain reaction. Because of its simplicity and reduced cost, this sensitive and specific assay could be a valuable addition to the current methods of diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in young infants

Most human megakaryocytes (MGKs) express the CD4 antigen on their surface. Approximately 25% have a CD4 receptor density comparable to that of CD4+ T cells (Basch et al, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87:8085, 1990). In these studies, we show: (1) the presence of mRNA for CD4 in human MGKs; (2) the binding of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) to human MGKs; (3) the inhibition of binding by anti-CD4 (Leu3a) antibody or rCD4; (4) the infection of a human MGK line, CHRF-288 with HIV-1; and (5) inhibition of infection with anti-CD4. Human MGKs have mRNA for CD4 as shown by in situ hybridization with an RNA probe synthesized from a 3-kb cDNA sequence of plasmid pSP65.T4.8 containing the full-length CD4 sequence. MGKs (23% +/- 17%) bound HIV-1, as determined by anti-gp120 and anti-CD41 staining. Binding to human MGKs could be inhibited 55% to 75% with anti-CD4 or rCD4, respectively. Infection of a CD4+ MGK line (CHRF-288) could be accomplished with HIV-1, as determined by proviral DNA polymerase chain reaction and p24 production. Preincubation with anti-CD4 inhibited apparent proviral DNA infection by 100% and p24 production by 65% to 70%. Thus, human MGKs have a CD4 receptor capable of binding HIV-1. Using this receptor, HIV-1 can infect cells representative of the MGK lineage

The early serologic response of infants to infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is normally obscured by the presence of transplacentally acquired maternal HIV antibody. By measuring HIV antibody produced in vitro by lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood of infants and children of HIV-1-infected mothers, we have been able to study the natural acquisition of humoral immunity to perinatal HIV-1 infection. One hundred ninety-seven infants of HIV-1-infected women were studied prospectively and longitudinally from birth. In the neonatal period, infected infants produced only small amounts of HIV-specific IgG antibodies to a restricted number of antigens. The amount of immunoglobulin to HIV-1 and the number of HIV-1 antigens recognized increased with age. After 6 months of life 85% of infected infants made detectable antibody to two or more viral proteins. Antibody to gp160 appeared first and was the most frequently found at all ages, followed by antibody to the envelope proteins gp120 and gp41. The amount of HIV antibody produced correlated positively with the percentage of CD4+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood. This assay provides a method of studying the immunogenicity of vaccines against HIV-1 in HIV-1-infected infants and of assessing the effect of early therapeutic interventions on the humoral response to HIV-1