Treatment with zidovudine (AZT) is not associated with increased B cell activation in HIV infection (Meeting abstract).

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1994. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Treatment with zidovudine (AZT) is not associated with increased B cell activation in HIV infection (Meeting abstract).

Proc Annu Meet Am Assoc Cancer Res; 35:A1137 1994. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/94602823
Widney D; Vander Meyden M; Martinez-Maza O; Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, UCLA Sch. of Medicine, Los; Angeles, CA 90024

Abstract: An increased frequency of AIDS-associated lymphoma has been reported to be associated with AZT treatment. B cell hyperactivation, which is often seen in HIV infection, is thought to contribute directly to the development of lymphoma. To determine if AZT contributes directly to lymphomagenesis by enhancing B cell activation, we determined whether in vivo AZT treatment, or in vitro exposure, enhance B cell activation and the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a B cell stimulatory cytokine. Exposure to AZT in vitro did not appear to enhance spontaneous immunoglobulin (Ig) or IL-6 secretion by B cells from HIV-infected subjects or from HIV-uninfected control donors. Also, AZT exposure in vitro did not enhance B cell activation induced by EBV or affect the ability of T cells to regulate EBV-induced B cell activation. IgG, IgM and IL-6 serum levels in HIV seropositive donors, did not increase following the initiation of AZT treatment. Also, treatment with AZT was not associated with B cell activation, as determined by the expression of cell surface activation markers on circulating B cells by flow cytometry. These results suggest that AZT does not induce or enhance B cell activation in vivo or in vitro, and suggest that AZT does not contribute to lymphomagenesis by enhancing B cell hyperstimulation. Perhaps the elevated incidence of lymphomas seen in persons treated with AZT is due to an increase in life-span associated with antiretroviral treatment, which places them at risk for developing lymphoma for a greater period of time.

Keywords: B-Lymphocytes/*DRUG EFFECTS/IMMUNOLOGY Human HIV Infections/*DRUG THERAPY/IMMUNOLOGY Interleukin-6/BIOSYNTHESIS Lymphocyte Transformation/*DRUG EFFECTS/IMMUNOLOGY Lymphoma, AIDS-Related/*CHEMICALLY INDUCED/IMMUNOLOGY Risk Factors Zidovudine/ADVERSE EFFECTS/*THERAPEUTIC USE ABSTRACT
941230
M94C4333

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