Document 0215
 DOCN  M95B0215
 TI    Syncytium forming capacity of HIV 1 strains in inhibited by pretreatment
       of CD4 expressing cells with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine but not by alpha
       interferon.
 DT    9511
 AU    Ruta SM; Cernescu C; Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, Bucharest,
       Romania.
 SO    Rev Roum Virol. 1994 Jul-Dec;45(3-4):171-83. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE MED/95345004
 AB    3'azido-3'deoxythymidine (AZT) inhibits the ability of uninfected CD4
       expressing cells to participate in syncytium formation, when cocultured
       with cells chronically infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1
       (HIV 1). The inhibition of giant cells formation is similar,
       irrespective of the AZT-sensitive or resistant phenotype of the HIV1
       strains. The effect on syncytium formation occurs when the uninfected
       target cells are pretreated with AZT, the therapeutic index varying
       between 290 (CEMss, H9 and > 2000 (HeLa CD4 beta gal). The syncytium
       reducing effect of AZT is an additional antiviral property, distinct
       from the inhibition of HIV replication. The HIV 1 phenotype (AZT
       sensitive or resistant) determines differences both in the morphology of
       syncytia and in the kinetics of syncytium formation. Pretreatment of the
       target cells with alpha interferon (125-2000 UI/ml) either alone or in
       combination with AZT, has no effect on the ability of these cells to
       participate in syncytium formation, probably owing to the basal IFN
       synthesis in the system.
 DE    Cell Fusion  CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/DRUG EFFECTS/PATHOLOGY/*VIROLOGY
       Giant Cells/DRUG EFFECTS/VIROLOGY  Hela Cells  Human  HIV-1/*DRUG
       EFFECTS/PATHOGENICITY  Interferon-alpha/*PHARMACOLOGY  Kinetics
       Phenotype  Sensitivity and Specificity  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
       Zidovudine/*PHARMACOLOGY  JOURNAL ARTICLE

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