       Document 0693
 DOCN  M9650693
 TI    Zidovudine as an immunomodulatory agent.
 DT    9605
 AU    Urso P; Majekodunmi MJ; Cobb JR; Lemon T; Etemadi AA; Jones TM; Wirsiy
       YG; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Morehouse School of;
       Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA.
 SO    Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). 1995;41 Suppl 1:S103-12. Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96171640
 AB    In view of the increase of HIV infection in women, and of transplacental
       infectivity, 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (zidovudine) is being explored
       to control infection in offspring. Zidovudine toxicity in humans and
       experimental animals is well documented. However, information on
       immunotoxicity in pregnant females and their offspring is lacking. We
       exposed pregnant female mice to zidovudine to provide data, and perhaps
       baseline evaluation, on zidovudine immunotoxicity in primiparous females
       and their progeny. In pregnant mice exposed to zidovudine (0.2 mg/ml) in
       drinking water, enhancement of the mixed lymphocyte response (MLR)
       occurs; suppression is not seen until the 7th month. Profound,
       persistent suppression is seen in their progeny first detected at one
       week of age. Suppression in virgin females occurs 1 month after
       treatment, which persists through the seventh month. The antibody
       forming cell response is enhanced in primiparous females and their
       offspring, but is not affected in virgin females. After weekly
       alternation of oral treatment with two 0.5 ml intravenous injections at
       0.2 mg/ml, MLR suppression occurs after 1 month in primiparous females,
       while in their progeny and in virgins enhancement is seen first; in
       progeny suppression is observed at 3 months. Thus, zidovudine is
       immunosuppressive for T-cell mediated immunity and the kind of
       modulation is a function of treatment regimen.
 DE    Administration, Oral  Animal  Animals, Newborn  Antibody Formation/*DRUG
       EFFECTS  Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/*DRUG EFFECTS  Dose-Response
       Relationship, Drug  Drug Evaluation  Female  Hemolytic Plaque Technique
       Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes/*CHEMICALLY INDUCED/CONGENITAL
       Immunosuppressive Agents/ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE/*TOXICITY  Injections,
       Intravenous  Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed  Male  Mice  Mice, Inbred
       C3H  Mice, Inbred C57BL  Mice, Inbred DBA  Pregnancy  Pregnancy
       Complications/*CHEMICALLY INDUCED/IMMUNOLOGY  Prenatal Exposure Delayed
       Effects  Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
       T-Lymphocytes/*DRUG EFFECTS/IMMUNOLOGY  Zidovudine/ADMINISTRATION &
       DOSAGE/*TOXICITY  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

