Buspirone, a serotonin receptor agonist, increases CD4 T-cell counts and modulates the immune system in HIV-seropositive subjects.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Buspirone, a serotonin receptor agonist, increases CD4 T-cell counts and modulates the immune system in HIV-seropositive subjects.

AIDS. 1996 Oct;10(12):1339-47. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/97057723
Hofmann B; Afzelius P; Iversen J; Kronborg G; Aabech P; Benfield T; Dybkjaer E; Nielsen JO; Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospitals,; Hvidovre, Denmark.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: We have previously shown that drugs that decrease intracellular cAMP levels increase/restore the proliferative and cytotoxic capacity of T cells from HIV-seropositive subjects in vitro. Buspirone, a serotonin receptor agonist, indirectly decreases intracellular cAMP levels in T cells and has the same increasing/restoring effect on T-cell proliferation in lymphocytes from HIV-seropositive subjects in vitro. DESIGN: Buspirone was given as a single high dose to six HIV-seropositive subjects, or as continuous medication with increasing dosage over 6 weeks to nine HIV-seropositive subjects, with CD4 T-cell counts of 150-300 x 10(6)/l. RESULTS: Significant increases in CD4 T cells, CD4 percentage and CD4/CD8 ratio were found 1 week after a single high dose of buspirone was administered. With continuous administration, a significant increase in CD4 T cells was observed after 1 and 4 weeks. Serum HIV RNA showed a significant decrease 1 h after a single dose of buspirone was administered. With continuous administration of buspirone, plasma HIV RNA first increased within the first 2 weeks of treatment and then decreased towards and below baseline concurrently with a significant decrease in CD8T cells. The proliferative T-cell response to poke weed mitogen and membrane expression of IL-2R increased significantly during continuous treatment with a significant decrease in expression of HLA-DR on CD8+ T cells. Development of "flu-like' symptoms, so severe that two patients withdrew from the study and two patients ceased medication before time, was a clinical indication of modulation of the immune system by buspirone. CONCLUSION: The study shows that buspirone modulates the immune system and leads to changes in the CD4 and CD8 T-cell numbers, functional capacity, cell maturation and viral load.

Keywords: *Buspirone/THERAPEUTIC USE *CD4 Lymphocyte Count/DRUG EFFECTS *HIV Seropositivity/IMMUNOLOGY
970530
M9751982

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