The clinical significance of CD10 antigen expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

The clinical significance and prognostic value of CD10 in de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is largely unknown. We retrospectively studied 19 men and 9 women based on the following criteria: (1) DLBCL with no evidence of concomitant or antecedent follicular lymphoma; (2) available flow cytometric immunophenotyping data, including CD10 status; (3) older than 15 years; (4) specific exclusion of high-grade, Burkitt-like lymphoma; and (5) exclusion of primary cutaneous DLBCL. When available, clinical data at diagnosis, including components of the international prognostic index, were reviewed. Eleven cases were CD10+, and 17 were CD10-. There was no significant difference between the CD10+ and CD10- groups in age, sex, stage, performance status, extranodal involvement, or serum lactate dehydrogenase levels at diagnosis. However, in the 26 cases for which follow-up data were available, the CD10+ group displayed a shorter overall survival than the CD10- group (8 vs 30 months). Although the clinical findings at diagnosis are similar in CD10+ and CD10- DLBCL, CD10 expression is associated with shortened overall survival. Therefore, our data suggest CD10 expression may have prognostic importance in adults with de novo DLBCL.

Two double-blinded, randomized, comparative trials of 4 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope vaccines in HIV-1-infected individuals across a spectrum of disease severity: AIDS Clinical Trials Groups 209 and 214.

The potential role of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific immune responses in controlling viral replication in vivo has stimulated interest in enhancing virus-specific immunity by vaccinating infected individuals with HIV-1 or its components. These studies were undertaken to define patient populations most likely to respond to vaccination, with the induction of novel HIV-1-specific cellular immune responses, and to compare the safety and immunogenicity of several candidate recombinant HIV-1 envelope vaccines and adjuvants. New lymphoproliferative responses (LPRs) developed in <30% of vaccine recipients. LPRs were elicited primarily in study participants with a CD4 cell count >350 cells/mm(3) and were usually strain restricted. Responders tended to be more likely than nonresponders to have an undetectable level of HIV-1 RNA at baseline (P=.067). Induction of new cellular immune responses by HIV-1 envelope vaccines is a function of the immunologic stage of disease and baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA level and exhibits considerable vaccine strain specificity.

In vitro effect of interleukin-12 on antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferative responses from persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

The relationship between CD4 lymphocyte count and the in vitro effect of interleukin (IL)-12 on lymphocyte proliferative responses to Candida, tetanus toxoid, and streptokinase antigens was studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC from 30 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons and 10 seronegative controls. IL-12 significantly increased proliferative responses to microbial recall antigens of PBMC from HIV-infected persons with >200 CD4 lymphocytes/mm3 but had little effect on PBMC from patients with more advanced disease. The greatest increase was seen in patients with 200-500 CD4 cells/mm3. Results of limiting dilution analysis suggested that the increase in antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation in the presence of IL-12 was due to an increase in the number of responding cells rather than an increase in the extent of proliferation of a fixed number of responder cells.

Plasma levels of the anti-HIV drug 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (AZT): determination by RIA and HPLC.

The radioimmunoassay (RIA) with two commercial kits and the high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method were employed to test human and dog blood plasma levels of AZT following oral and intravenous administration of AZT preparations Retrovir and Azitidin. A comparison of results obtained by the two RIA kits showed a good correlation. A weaker correlation was established in comparing the results obtained by RIA with those obtained by HPLC. Because of its reliability, rapid availability of results and the price, RIA is more advantageous than HPLC for routine use in monitoring the therapy as well as in determining pharmacokinetic parameters of AZT.

Recombinant interferon-alpha 2 inhibits HIV replication in chronically infected promonocytic cells.

Promonocytic cells U937 with previously established HIV-1 persistent infection, were treated with increasing doses of the recombinant INF-alpha 2. This resulted in a significant decrease of virion-associated reverse transcriptase levels in medium of the cultures studied, most pronounced by the highest interferon doses, but depending on this cytokine presence. In spite of the marked restrictive effect of the interferon on the infectious virus production the synthesis, of viral structural proteins by the U937 cells, as detected by immunofluorescence, was not affected. The therapeutic index of interferon was considerably high.

Failure of azidothymidine to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in a promonocytic cell line (U937).

The inhibitory effect of azidothymidine (AZT) on HIV replication in the promonocytic cell line U937 was investigated. After infection with HIV-1/LAV virus, U937 cells were cultured for prolonged period in the presence of the drug at a final concentrations of 20 mumol/l or 50 mumol/l, respectively. The antiviral activity was determined according to the inhibition of viral reverse transcriptase activity, and of viral antigen production (immunofluorescence assay). We conclude that virus production was not efficiently influenced during long term passage even at high drug concentrations.