Protection of T cells against infectivity and cytopathic effect of HTLV-III in vitro.

A recently discovered member of the human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) family of retroviruses has been etiologically linked to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This virus, which has been designated HTLV-III, is tropic for OKT4+ (helper/inducer) T-cells. Moreover, the virus is cytopathic for these cells. Suramin is a drug used in the therapy of Rhodesian trypanosomiasis and onchocerciasis, and it inhibits the reverse transcriptase of a number of retroviruses including HTLV-III. In the present work, we report our findings that suramin can block the in vitro infectivity and cytopathic effect of HTLV-III at doses that are clinically attainable in human beings. We believe these results may have relevance in planning experimental therapeutic strategies for various diseases associated with members of the HTLV-family of pathogenic human retroviruses.