Document 1124
 DOCN  M94A1124
 TI    Lymphocyte function and cytokines in HIV+ patients treated on AZT or
       ddI.
 DT    9412
 AU    Raise E; Fondacaro A; Guerra L; Chen CH; Cicognani MA; Schiattone ML;
       Martuzzi M; Gritti FM; Infect. Dis. Dept., Maggiore Hospital, Bologna,
       Italy.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(2):203 (abstract no. PB0825). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94371451
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To investigate lymphocyte function and serum cytokines in
       HIV+ patients (pts), treated on AZT or ddI. METHODS: We studied: 20
       asymptomatic pts, at high risk of evolution (HR), defined as CD4 <
       500/cmm and low anti-p24 Ab, elevated B2 M. and p24Ag, treated on AZT
       250 mg b.i.d.; 22 ARC and 10 AIDS: 12 randomly, and 20,
       AZT-intolerant/resistant, treted on ddI 250-375 mg b.i.d.; 20 ARC and 10
       AIDS on AZT 200 mg q.6-8 h/day. Lymphocytes, CD4, CD8, CD16 CD56
       absolute number; NK-activity (NKA); lymphocyte prolipheration by PHA
       (PHA-LP), were evaluated at baseline (Bl) and at 3rd and 6th momth (m);
       serum IL-2. TNF-alpha, IL-6, p24Ag and soluble lymphocyte receptors,
       IL-2sR, CD8sR, at Bl and 3rd m. RESULTS: In HR and ARC pts, Bl NKA and
       PHA-LP were > 50% reduced; IL-2 was significantly (S) (T student test)
       elevated, in HR > than ARC, where TNF-a was S increased. In AIDS, NKA
       and PHA-LP were more depressed, IL-2 was low; TNF-alpha and IL-6 were S
       elevated, at Bl. ZDV and ddI reduced p24 Ag load in all, increased S
       CD4, NKA and PHA-LP, only in ARC pts, with increase of IL-2, found also
       in HR, not in AIDS, where only p24 Ag and IL-6 decreased. IL-2sR and
       CD8sR were increased at Bl in all, and did reduce after ZDV and in AIDS.
       DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Cytokine variability, in the infection,
       might condition Th1 or Th2 prevalence, and lymphocyte function. During
       latency, NKA and PHA-LP are compromised, while IL-2 is elevated,
       protecting from opportunistic infections even in ARC. Probably CTL are
       used instead of NK. AZT/ddI restore NKA and PHA-LP function in ARC pts
       and, reducing viral load, support lymphocyte function. They also reduce
       the immune activation expressed by the increase of circulating IL-2sR
       and CD8rS.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/DRUG THERAPY/IMMUNOLOGY  AIDS-Related
       Complex/DRUG THERAPY/IMMUNOLOGY  Cytokines/*BLOOD
       Didanosine/*THERAPEUTIC USE  Human  HIV Core Protein p24/ANALYSIS  HIV
       Seropositivity/*DRUG THERAPY/IMMUNOLOGY  Interleukins/BLOOD  Killer
       Cells, Natural/IMMUNOLOGY  Lymphocyte Transformation
       Lymphocytes/*IMMUNOLOGY  T-Lymphocyte Subsets  Tumor Necrosis
       Factor/ANALYSIS  Zidovudine/*THERAPEUTIC USE  CLINICAL TRIAL  MEETING
       ABSTRACT  RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

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