Document 0797
 DOCN  M94B0797
 TI    Treatment with zidovudine (AZT) is not associated with increased B cell
       activation in HIV infection (Meeting abstract).
 DT    9412
 AU    Widney D; Vander Meyden M; Martinez-Maza O; Dept. of Microbiology and
       Immunology, UCLA Sch. of Medicine, Los; Angeles, CA 90024
 SO    Proc Annu Meet Am Assoc Cancer Res; 35:A1137 1994. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE ICDB/94602823
 AB    An increased frequency of AIDS-associated lymphoma has been reported to
       be associated with AZT treatment. B cell hyperactivation, which is often
       seen in HIV infection, is thought to contribute directly to the
       development of lymphoma. To determine if AZT contributes directly to
       lymphomagenesis by enhancing B cell activation, we determined whether in
       vivo AZT treatment, or in vitro exposure, enhance B cell activation and
       the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a B cell stimulatory cytokine.
       Exposure to AZT in vitro did not appear to enhance spontaneous
       immunoglobulin (Ig) or IL-6 secretion by B cells from HIV-infected
       subjects or from HIV-uninfected control donors. Also, AZT exposure in
       vitro did not enhance B cell activation induced by EBV or affect the
       ability of T cells to regulate EBV-induced B cell activation. IgG, IgM
       and IL-6 serum levels in HIV seropositive donors, did not increase
       following the initiation of AZT treatment. Also, treatment with AZT was
       not associated with B cell activation, as determined by the expression
       of cell surface activation markers on circulating B cells by flow
       cytometry. These results suggest that AZT does not induce or enhance B
       cell activation in vivo or in vitro, and suggest that AZT does not
       contribute to lymphomagenesis by enhancing B cell hyperstimulation.
       Perhaps the elevated incidence of lymphomas seen in persons treated with
       AZT is due to an increase in life-span associated with antiretroviral
       treatment, which places them at risk for developing lymphoma for a
       greater period of time.
 DE    B-Lymphocytes/*DRUG EFFECTS/IMMUNOLOGY  HIV Infections/*DRUG
       THERAPY/IMMUNOLOGY  Human  Interleukin-6/BIOSYNTHESIS  Lymphocyte
       Transformation/*DRUG EFFECTS/IMMUNOLOGY  Lymphoma,
       AIDS-Related/*CHEMICALLY INDUCED/IMMUNOLOGY  Risk Factors
       Zidovudine/ADVERSE EFFECTS/*THERAPEUTIC USE  MEETING ABSTRACT

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