Product Nkabinde Mediates Cytokine Modulation and Antiviral Activity in HIV-Infected MT4 Cells

During HIV infection, the immune system initiates an immune response to control the viremia. In this in vitro study, we investigated the immunomodulatory and anti-HIV potential of a traditional medicine formulation, Product Nkabinde (PN). A freeze-dried extract of PN was used to determine cytotoxicity in MT4 cells. Non-cytotoxic doses were used to evaluate the immunomodulatory and anti-HIV effects of PN using neutralization, prophylactic and treatment approaches. Post-treatment, cytokine quantification and p24 detection were performed. In the neutralization strategy, PN restored IL-1α (p = 0.0389) and IL-10 (p = 0.0443) to levels of uninfected cells. It also reduced HIV-induced elevations in IL-8 (p = 0.035), IP-10 (p = 0.0886), and MCP-1 (p = 0.0733) compared to HIV-infected cells. In the prophylactic approach, HIV infection upregulated IL-1α (p = 0.676), which was suppressed by PN. In the treatment strategy, PN reversed the elevated levels of IL-1α (p = 0.049). IL-10 was fully restored by PN to levels of uninfected cells. In all strategies, PN induced a significant and dose-dependent decrease in HIV replication. These findings demonstrate that PN exerts potent immunomodulatory effects all strategies used by reversing HIV-induced cytokine dysregulation, thereby inducing significant anti-HIV effects.