Mechanism (S) of interferon inhibitory activity in blood from patients with AIDS and patients with lupus erythematosus with vasculitis
Ambrus, J.L.; Ambrus, J.L.; Chadha, S.; Novick, D.; Rubinstein, M.; Gopalakrishnan, B.; Bernstein, Z.; Priore, R.L.; Chadha, K.C.
Research Communications in Molecular Pathology and Pharmacology 96(3): 255-265
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 1078-0297 PMID: 9261885 Document Number: 470194
We have earlier reported that patients suffering from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with vasculitis, Wegner granulomatosis and certain types of late stage cancer have interferon inhibitory activity in their serum. The purpose of this study was to identify the factor(s) involved in this interferon inhibitory activity. Twenty patients with advanced AIDS, twenty patients with SLE and vasculitis and twenty normal healthy controls between ages 25 - 40 years were studied. In contrast to normal, healthy controls, significant interferon inhibitory activity was found in AIDS and SLE patients. This appears to be largely due to: (a) increased soluble circulating interferon alpha/beta receptors, (b) increased prostaglandin E-2 levels which inhibits interferon and (c) a interferon inhibitory protein. Further understanding of the nature of interferon inhibitory activity in the patient's sera and development of anti-interferon inhibitory agents would greatly enhance interferons potential as a treatment modality.