11th International AIDS Conference Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:29 (abstract no. LB.B.6037)
Chiodo F, Raise F, Gritti F, Pizza G, Fudenberg HH, DeVinci C, Viza D; Neuro ImmunoTherapeutics Research Foundation, Spartanburg, SC. Fax: (803) 591-0622. E-mail: compuserve ID 103765, 1153.

METHODS: HIV-specific TF was made from immunized BALB/c mice, and replicated in tissue culture and encapsulated for oral administration.

RESULTS: 20 ARC patients, treated with TF and zidovudine (ZDV) for more than 6 months, showed improvement or stabilization of their clinical condition and/or biological parameters, and 2/4 CDC4C4 patients with a survival prognosis of 6 months remain alive respectively 3 and 4 years later. DTH was restored in 9/12 anergic CDC3 patients. The IL-2 levels and CD8 numbers in 5 patients, suggest that TF may activate the Th1 cytokine secretion pattern. Studies in SIV infected macaques confirmed that SIV-specific TF can prevent progression of SAIDS. The CD8 extract was the most active, corroborating the hypothesis that CTL may be responsible for controlling disease progression. (Cytotoxic T-cells are CD4+/CD8+/HLA-,DR+).

CONCLUSION: HIV specific TF can be beneficial even in advanced stage AIDS patients and can be associated with ZDV. Further studies should determine for how long TF administration could arrest disease progression and whether it can prevent HIV infection and used as a prophylactic vaccine, as in the case of VZV and HSV infections, respectively in leukaemic children and in a mouse model. In 2 cases, HIV-specific TF resulted in PCR drop from 80,000/mm³ to 0 and from 260,000/mm³ to 20,000/mm³ in 2 and 3 months, respectively.

960707
LBB6037

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