HIV蛋白酶抑制剂与细胞凋亡

HIV感染人体后造成大量CD4 + T淋巴细胞的凋亡 ,从而破坏免疫系统 ,使机体无法抵抗病毒的入侵 ,导致免疫缺陷。目前的药物靶点都针对病毒本身 ,无法清除体内储存病毒的感染细胞 ,而HIV蛋白酶抑制剂治疗HIV/AIDS患者后可以减少HIV感染引起的细胞凋亡 ,帮助机体恢复免疫功能 ,并且这种作用与其抑制病毒的作用是相独立的 ,这提示了可以通过免疫重建的策略来治疗AIDS。本文综述了HIV蛋白酶抑制剂的研究和发展概况 ,其作用特点以及对细胞凋亡的影响。明确HIV蛋白酶抑制剂与细胞凋亡的关系 ,可以启发新的思路从细胞着手 ,通过恢复机体的免疫能力来对抗病毒 ,从根本上治疗AIDS。     

HIV protease inhibitors: advances in therapy and adverse reactions, including metabolic complications

Protease inhibitors (PIs) effectively inhibit replication of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and reduce mortality and prolong survival in patients with HIV infection. Newer PIs saquinavir (soft gelatin capsule) and amprenavir, as well as other PIs, may be effective when administered twice/day. Adverse reactions may occur, as well as metabolic complications and interactions between PIs and other drugs, including other PIs. The strategy of combining PIs is based on specific pharmacologic interactions among the agents.     

Rationale for the Use of Immunotoxins in the Treatment of HIV-infected Humans

Abstract

The first step in the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is selective binding of the envelope glycoprotein (gp120) to CD4 receptors on T cells or macrophages. After penetration in these cells, the genome of the virus is integrated in the human genome. HIV-infection causes depletion of CD4-positive cells resulting in a severe immunosuppression. It is believed that eliminating HIV-infected cells is crucial in limiting further reduction of CD4-positive cells and thus, preventing disease progression. The most commonly used drugs, such as zidovudine (AZT), appeared to be not completely effective. Therefore many investigators are searching for alternative treatment modalities. The use of immunotoxins (ITs) to eliminate HIV-infected cells is discussed.

ITs are chimeric molecules in which cell-binding ligands are coupled to toxins and can specifically eliminate undesired cells. The cell-binding carriers of anti-HIV ITs have been directed against different regions of the HIV envelope glycoprotein (gp120 and gp41) and surface antigens (e.g CD4, CD25). The ITs have been composed of different ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) like pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP), Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE), Diphtheria toxin (DT), or ricin. In in vitro studies, several of these ITs have been shown to be effective and specific in killing acute and persistently HIV-infected cells. The ITs were effective at concentrations (ID50 range from 10^-9 M to 10^-12 M) that were not toxic to uninfected cells or cells without the antigen. The IT CD4(178)PE40, a fusion protein directed against the CD4 binding site of gp120, has been investigated in two in vivo trials. The results were disappointing considering die antiviral activity in vitro. This was thought to be due to the rapid clearance of the IT and the differential resistance of clinical HIV isolates. Use of a panel of ITs is likely to be more effective because multiple approaches cover the intrinsic variability of HIV and the presence of IT-resistant or latently infected cells, as well as the blocking presence of neutralizing anti-HIV antibodies and the immunogenicity of most ITs.

It may be possible to control the virus completely with a panel of ITs in combination with other antiviral or immunosuppressive agents such as RT inhibitors (e.g AZT), interferon α, or cyclosporine. More research will be necessary to develop such a combined therapy.     

新型抗艾滋病药物——HIV进入抑制剂的研究进展

HIV与靶细胞融合的过程是药物干预的重要环节。融合过程主要由H IV包被蛋白表面亚基gp120和跨膜亚基gp41介导。H IV gp120与靶细胞上的CD4分子和辅助受体(趋化因子受体CCR5或CXCR4等)结合,导致gp41的构型发生改变,启动病毒包膜与靶细胞膜的融合。在融合过程中,病毒和靶细胞上的这些蛋白和受体均可作为药物的作用靶点,寻找抑制H IV进入靶细胞的药物用来治疗H IV感染和艾滋病。作用于gp41的肽类药物T-20已被美国FDA批准上市,表明继逆转录酶抑制剂和蛋白酶抑制剂后,H IV进入抑制剂作为第3类抗H IV药物开始在临床上应用。作为一种新机制的抗H IV药物,H IV进入抑制剂单独或与逆转录酶抑制剂和蛋白酶抑制剂联合应用,将有助于提高药物的疗效,降低毒副作用,并可望挽救对现有抗H IV药物耐药的艾滋病病人的生命。该文综述了近年来H IV进入抑制剂的研究进展。