Development of an enzyme immunoassay for a stable amidated analog of the hemoregulatory peptide acetyl-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro

The tetrapeptide Acetyl-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro (AcSDKP) has been shown to protect hematopoietic stem cells from the toxicity of anticancer chemotherapies. Since its pharmacological efficacy is limited by a rapid degradation by Angiotensin-I Converting Enzyme (ACE), AcSDKP analogs resistant to ACE have been synthesized. One of these compounds (AcSDKP-NH,) differs from the native AcSDKP by amidation of the C-terminus. Further evaluations of this molecule require an analytical method in order to characterize its pharmacokinetic profile. We report, here, the development of a highly specific and sensitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for AcSDKP-NH, thatdoes not cross-react with endogenous or exogenous AcSDKP. Using AcSDKP-NH2-acetylcholinesterase conjugate as a tracer, rabbit specific antiserum and microtiter plates coated with goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulins, this EIA allows the determination of AcSDKP-NH2 with limits of quantitation of 1 nM in mouse plasma and 100 pmol/g in tissues. Intra-day and inter-day coefficients of variations were less than 20%. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in order to compare plasma and tissue profiles of AcSDKP-NH2 and AcSDKP. Plasma AcSDKP-NH2 levels were found higher than those of AcSDKP, with AUCinf and Cmax values, respectively, 26- and 10-fold higher than that of AcSDKP.

A sensitive amphotericin B immunoassay for pharmacokinetic and distribution studies

Since currently used assays of amphotericin B (AMB) lack sensitivity or are not easily adaptable in all laboratories, we have developed an enzyme immunoassay for AMB in biological fluids and tissues. Antibodies to AMB were raised in rabbits after administration of an AMB-bovine serum albumin conjugate. The enzymatic tracer was obtained by coupling AMB via its amino group to acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7). These reagents were used for the development of a competitive immunoassay performed on microtitration plates. The limit of quantification was 100 pg/ml in plasma and 1 ng/g in tissues. The plasma assay was performed directly without extraction on a minimal volume of 0.1 ml. The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were in the range of 5 to 17%, and the recoveries were 92 to 111% for AMB added to human plasma. The assay was applied to a pharmacokinetic study with mice given AMB intraperitoneally at the dose of 1 mg/kg. The drug distribution in selected compartments (plasma, liver, spleen, lung, and brain) was monitored until 72 h after administration. In conclusion, our assay is at least 100-fold more sensitive than previously described bioassays or chromatographic determinations of AMB and may be useful in studying the tissue pharmacokinetics of new AMB formulations and in drug monitoring in clinical situations.

Superinfection of HIV-2-preinfected macaques after rectal exposure to a primary isolate of SIVmac251

To test the protection afforded by a weakly pathogenic HIV-2 isolate against the superinfection or development of SIV-induced disease, we intrarectally challenged six HIV-2-preinfected rhesus monkeys with a pathogenic isolate of SIVmac251. At the time of SIV challenge, none of these HIV-2-infected animals was positive for virus isolation, p27-Gag antigenemia, or HIV-2 provirus detection in PBMCs or peripheral lymph nodes. However, all monkeys exhibited anti-HIV-2 antibody titers ranging from 10(2) to 10(3). Neutralizing antibodies against the challenge SIV strain were also detected in two animals. After rectal exposure to SIVmac251, five of the six HIV-2-preinfected macaques were superinfected. SIVmac251 DNA sequences were detected repeatedly in the PBMCs of the five superinfected animals and the two controls, whereas no HIV-2 provirus was detected for 14 months postchallenge. The one monkey that resisted superinfection was negative for all SIV infection criteria. This monkey exhibited the highest anti-SIV ELISA and cross-neutralizing antibody titers on the day of SIV challenge. Preinfection with a weakly pathogenic HIV-2 ROD isolate protected one of six macaques from infection with the closely related pathogenic SIVmac251 isolate, but no protection from the progression of disease was evidenced in the other five.

Comparative interleukin (IL-2)/interferon IFN-gamma and IL-4/IL-10 responses during acute infection of macaques inoculated with attenuated nef-truncated or pathogenic SICmac251 virus

Comparison of immune responses to infection by a pathogenic or a nonpathogenic immunodeficiency virus in macaques may provide insights into pathogenetic events leading to simian AIDS. This work is aimed at exploring cytokine expression during infection by simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). We used semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR to monitor interleukin (IL)-2/interferon (IFN)-gamma (Th1-like), and IL-4/IL-10 (Th2-like) expression in unmanipulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), during the acute phase of infection of eight cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) with a pathogenic primary isolate of SIVmac251 (full-length nef), and of four other cynomolgus macaques by an attenuated molecular clone of SIVmac251 (nef-truncated). All the monkeys became infected, as clearly shown by the presence of infected PBMCs and by seroconversion. Nevertheless, PBMC-associated virus loads and p27 antigenemia in monkeys infected by the attenuated virus clone remained lower than those observed in animals infected with the pathogenic SIVmac251 isolate. A rise of IL-10 mRNA expression occurred in both groups of monkeys coincident with the peak of viral replication. In monkeys infected with the pathogenic SIVmac251, IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma mRNAs were either weakly detectable or undetectable. On the contrary, animals infected by the attenuated virus exhibited an overexpression of these cytokine mRNAs during the first weeks after inoculation. The lack of expression of these cytokines in monkeys infected with the pathogenic primary isolate may reflect early immunodeficiency.

Interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin 10 responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of cynomolgus macaques during acute infection with SIVmac251

HIV infection ultimately leads to AIDS, despite the immune responses elicited soon after infection. In addition to the observed changes in lymphoid cell subsets, alteration of the cytokine network most likely accompanies and/or contributes to the lack of protective immune responses. In an attempt to delineate the early events in the immune response to lentivirus infection, we have sequentially monitored levels of proinflammatory (IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) and antiinflammatory (IL-10) cytokine mRNAs in PBMCs of cynomolgus macaques during primary SIVmac infection. Eight monkeys were infected i.v. with 4 AID50 of cell-free SIVmac251. All monkeys seroconverted between days 16 and 21 postinfection (p.i.), and had detectable peripheral viremia. The viral load peaked between days 12 and 16 p.i., and fell sharply thereafter. A marked increase in the expression of IL-6 mRNA was observed in all macaques during the first weeks following infection. An increase in the levels of expression of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 mRNA was also determined in six, six, and five of the eight monkeys, respectively. While IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 increased transiently, increased levels of IL-1 beta mRNA expression were sustained over 44 days in most monkeys.

An animal model for antilentiviral therapy: effect of zidovudine on viral load during acute infection after exposure of macaques to simian immunodeficiency virus

We analyzed the kinetics of the virological and immunological events that occurred in four AZT-treated cynomolgus macaques during the acute infection that followed their exposure to the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVmac251) grown on monkey PBMCs in a cell-free stock solution. These events included changes in the CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte subsets, p27 antigenemia, infectious serum virus, and cell-associated virus loads. The kinetics of these changes proved strikingly similar to those reported in human HIV-1 infection. Four other SIV-exposed macaques were treated with placebo instead of AZT. We demonstrated that AZT does not prevent SIV infection, even when administered before SIV inoculation. However, the peaks of p27 antigenemia and of serum and cellular viremia were significantly smaller and occurred significantly later in the monkeys given AZT than in those given placebo.