Anti-Fas monoclonal antibody is cytocidal to human immunodeficiency virus-infected cells without augmenting viral replication.

A cytotoxic monoclonal antibody (anti-Fas mAb) against the 200-kDa cell surface Fas antigen, which is associated with the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor, was examined for its in vitro activity on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected cells. It was found that both TNF and anti-Fas mAb selectively killed the chronically HIV-infected cells. Uninfected cells were less sensitive to the antibody than those infected with HIV. When the cells were cultured in the presence of anti-Fas mAb immediately after the HIV infection, the spread of HIV-infected cells was suppressed by the antibody. TNF augmented both the synthesis of HIV-specific mRNA in HIV-infected cells and formation of multinucleated giant cells. In contrast, the anti-Fas mAb did not augment HIV replication or enhance the HIV-induced formation of syncytia. The results indicated that anti-Fas mAb mimicks the cytocidal action of TNF but does not augment HIV replication.