Induction of monocyte proliferation and HIV expression by IL-3 does not
interfere with anti-viral activity of zidovudine
H Schuitemaker, NA Kootstra, MH van Oers, R van Lambalgen, M Tersmette and F Miedema
Central Laboratory, The Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Myelosuppression is a major symptom in the acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS). Moreover zidovudine, an anti-retroviral drug used to treat
AIDS patients has myelosuppressive side effects. Therefore treatment with
IL-3, a multi-lineage hemopoietic growth factor may be beneficial for
zidovudine-treated individuals. In this study we examined the effect of
IL-3 on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) expression. The proliferative
response to rIL-3 and the effects on the replication of the monocytotropic
HIV variant, HTLV-III Ba-L, in the absence or presence of the
anti-retroviral drug zidovudine was studied in purified human peripheral
blood monocytes. Zidovudine concentrations sufficient for complete
inhibition of HIV replication did not affect rIL-3 induced monocyte
proliferation. Although rIL-3, like rGM-CSF, was able to augment HIV
expression in monocytes, it did not interfere with the anti-retroviral
activity of zidovudine. These data indicate that rIL-3 is a potential
candidate for use in myelosupportive therapy in AIDS patients treated with
anti-retroviral drugs.
Volume 76,
Issue 8,
pp. 1490-1493,
10/15/1990
Copyright © 1990 by The American Society of Hematology
