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Preliminary observations using HIV-specific transfer factor in AIDS. Biotherapy. 1996;9(1-3):41-7.
Pizza G, Chiodo F, Colangeli V, Gritti F, Raise E, Fudenberg HH, De Vinci C, Viza D.
Immunodiagnosis and Immunotherapy Unit, Ospedale S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
Twenty five HIV-1-infected patients, at various stages (CDC II, III and IV) were treated orally with HIV-1-specific transfer factors for periods varying from 60 to 1870 days. All patients were receiving antiviral treatments in association with transfer factors. The number of lymphocytes, CD4 and CD8 subsets were followed and showed no statistically significant variations. In 11/25 patients the number of lymphocytes increased, whilst in 11/25 decreased; similarly an increase of the CD4 lymphocytes was observed in 11/25 patients and of the CD8 lymphocytes in 15/25. Clinical improvement or a stabilized clinical condition was noticed in 20/25 patients, whilst a deterioration was seen in 5/25. In 12/14 anergic patients, daily transfer factors administration restored delayed type hypersensitivity to recall antigens within 60 days. These preliminary observations suggest that oral HIV-specific transfer factors administration, in association with antiviral drugs, is well tolerated and seems beneficial to AIDS patients, thus warranting further investigation.
PMID: 8993756 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Biotherapy. 1996;9(1-3):49-54.
Preliminary results in HIV-1-infected patients treated with transfer factors (TF) and zidovudine (ZDV).
Raise E, Guerra L, Viza D, Pizza G, De Vinci C, Schiattone ML, Rocaccio L, Cicognani M, Gritti F.
Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
The efficiency of HIV-1 specific transfer factors administration, combined with Zidovudine (ZDV), in asymptomatic persistent generalised lymphadenopaty, or AIDS related complex (ARC) patients was evaluated. Twenty patients were randomly assigned to receive only ZDV (1st group) or ZDV together with HIV-1-specific TF (2nd group). HIV-1-specific TF was administered orally at 2 x 10(7) cell equivalent daily for 15 days, and thereafter once a week for up to 6 months. There were no significant differences between the two groups in clinical evolution, red blood cells, haemoglobin, lymphocytes, CD20 subset, transaminases, beta-2-microglobulin, p24 antigen. White blood cells, CD8 lymphocytes as well as IL-2 levels increased in the second group, while the CD4 subset increased in the first group. The combination treatment with ZDV and transfer factors appeared to be safe and well tolerated. Furthermore, levels of serum cytokines were investigated in 10 patients (8 asymptomatic and 2 ARC) treated with ZDV, and compared with 5 patients of the 2nd group (3 asymptomatic and 2 ARC) treated with ZDV plus HIV-1-specific transfer factors. Peripheral lymphocytes, CD4, CD8 subsets, IL-2, TNF alpha, IL-6, p24 antigen, IL-2 soluble lymphocyte receptors (sR), CD4sR, CD8sR and beta-2-microglobulin were evaluated at the baseline and at the 3rd month. The CD4 subset was not significantly different in the two groups, whilst IL-2 increased in the 2nd group receiving ZDV plus transfer factors, suggesting an activation of the Th1 secretion pattern.
PMID: 8993757 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Sb Ved Pr Lek Fak Karlovy Univerzity Hradci Kralove. 1993;36(3):117-37.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Dec 17;325(3):1075-81.
Non-induced leukocyte extract reduces HIV replication and TNF secretion.
Fernández-Ortega C, Dubed M, Ramos Y, Navea L, Alvarez G, Lobaina L, López L, Casillas D, Rodríguez L.
Department of Cell Biology, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Ave. 31 e/ 158 y 190, Cubanacán, Playa, AP: 6162, Havana 10600, Cuba. celia.fernandez@cigb.edu.cu
According to UNAIDS, the global HIV/AIDS epidemic increased to 40 million the number of people living with the virus around the world. Dialyzable leukocyte extract obtained by our group is a low molecular weight dialyzable material from peripheral human leukocytes previously in vitro induced with Sendai virus (DLE-ind), and more recently, from non-induced leukocytes (DLE n/i). Previous results have shown the ability of DLE-ind to inhibit HIV in vitro replication in MT4 cell; to reduce TNFalpha secretion, and to delay in vivo progression to AIDS in early stage of HIV infection. In this work we present evidences that DLE n/i also inhibits HIV in vitro replication and reduces TNFalpha secretion in human whole blood like DLE obtained from induced leukocytes. Taking together these results show that both properties of DLE, HIV in vitro inhibition and TNF production modulation, are not dependent on in vitro Sendai virus induction of leukocytes.
PMID: 15541398 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]