Document 2237
 DOCN  M94A2237
 TI    The anti-HIV activity of recombinant MAP 30 from bitter melon.
 DT    9412
 AU    Lee-Huang S; Bourinbaiar A; Chen HC; Huang P; Huang PL; Kung HF;
       Biochem. Dept., NYU Medical School, NY.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):35 (abstract no. 114A). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370338
 AB    OBJECTIVE: Recently there is an intense community interest in the use of
       bitter melon, the source of MAP 30 (Momordinica Anti-HIV Protein, MW
       30kD), as an alternative therapy for AIDS. We have cloned and expressed
       the gene of this protein. The objective of this study is to determine
       the anti-HIV activity of the recombinant MAP 30 (rMAP 30). METHODS: The
       antiviral activity of rMAP 30 was studied in acutely as well as
       chronically infected cells, by syncytium formation in CEM-ss cells,
       viral core protein p24 expression and HIV-reverse transcriptase (RT)
       activity in H9 cells. Cytotoxicity was measured by the effects of rMAP
       30 on cellular DNA and protein syntheses in uninfected H9 cells.
       Toxicity to intact animals was studied on mice. RESULTS: We report here
       that rMAP 30 inhibits HIV-1 to the some extent as native MAP 30 (nMAP
       30) isolated from the mature bitter melon seeds. In the dose range of
       the assay, like its native counterpart, rMAP 30 exhibits little
       cytotoxicity in tissue culture or toxicity to intact animals.
       Comparisons of the Anti-HIV activity (ID50), cytotoxicity (TD50), and
       toxicity (LD50) of rMAP 30 and nMAP 30 are summarized below: TABULAR
       DATA, SEE ABSTRACT VOLUME. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The therapeutic
       index of rMAP 30 is comparable to that of nMAP 30, above 10,000. rMAP 30
       provides an abundant source of homogeneous material for animal and
       pharmacokinetics studies in the development of this anti-HIV agent for
       clinical use in patients.
 DE    Animal  Antimetabolites/*PHARMACOLOGY  Antiviral Agents/*PHARMACOLOGY
       Cells, Cultured  Giant Cells/PATHOLOGY  Human  HIV Core Protein
       p24/METABOLISM  HIV-1/*DRUG EFFECTS  Lectins/PHARMACOLOGY  Mice  Plant
       Proteins/*PHARMACOLOGY/TOXICITY  Recombinant Proteins  Reverse
       Transcriptase/METABOLISM  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).