didanosine and Cell-Transformation--Viral

2',3'dideoxyinosine (ddI) has potent activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but is rapidly metabolized by erythrocytic purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), and therefore has a very short plasma half-life in rodents, monkeys and in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is now reported that 100 microM (2-[2-[(2-amino-1,6-dihydro-6-oxo-9H-purin-9-yl)methyl]-phenyl]ethenyl) - phosphonic acid (MDL 74,428), a very potent inhibitor of PNP blocks the intracellular phosphorolysis of ddI in cultured human red blood cells, in T leukemic CEM lymphoblasts and prolongs ddI plasma effective concentration in mice at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight given i.p. In MDL 74,428-treated CEM cells, despite marked reduction of ddI catabolism, neither further accumulation of ddATP, the active antiviral metabolite of ddI, nor potentiation of the activity of ddI against HIV cytopathogenicity is observed. MDL 74,428 does not also affect the inhibitory effect of ddI combined with ribavirin on the transformation in vitro of C3H/3T3 cells by Moloney murine sarcoma virus (MSV). In mice, on the contrary, MDL 74,428 (200 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) is effective at potentiating the effect of ribavirin used either alone, or combined with ddI on MSV-induced tumour formation and associated mortality. However, in the absence of ribavirin, co-administration of MDL 74,428 with ddI affords, no chemotherapeutic advantage.

Topics: 3T3 Cells; Animals; Antiviral Agents; Cell Transformation, Viral; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Didanosine; Drug Interactions; HIV-1; Humans; Male; Mice; Moloney murine sarcoma virus; Organophosphorus Compounds; Pentosyltransferases; Purines; Ribavirin; Tumor Cells, Cultured

2',3'-Dideoxyinosine (DDI) and 2',3'-dideoxy-2,6-diaminopurine riboside (ddDAPR) are potent and selective inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in MT-4 cells. They are also inhibitory to the transformation of C3H/3T3 cells by Moloney murine sarcoma virus (MSV). In vivo, they are only marginally effective in delaying MSV-induced tumor formation, and mortality associated therewith in newborn NMRI mice. When combined with ribavirin, DDI and ddDAPR become much more effective in inhibiting MSV and HIV replication in vitro and MSV-induced tumor formation in vivo. These observations point to the potential role of ribavirin in potentiating the anti-HIV activity of DDI in AIDS patients.

Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Cell Line; Cell Transformation, Viral; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Didanosine; Dideoxyadenosine; Drug Synergism; Fibroblasts; HIV; Humans; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Moloney murine sarcoma virus; Ribavirin; Sarcoma, Experimental; Virus Replication