Effect of d-fenfluramine on the lymphocyte response of HIV+ humans

The objective of this study was to analyse the effect of d-dexfenfluramine (d-FEN) on the human lymphocyte response, in vitro. Experiments were designed to determine whether d-FEN augments specific human immune parameters associated with protection from opportunistic microbial pathogens and particularly focuses on d-FEN as a means by which to augment the function of CD8+ and CD4+ lymphocytes. Lymphocytes were examined for three reasons: (1) for their ability to inhibit the growth of Candida albicans; (2) for their ability to proliferate in response to a mitogen; and, (3) their cytokine profile (vis., production of IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained from 20 HIV+ patients. The patients were diagnosed as HIV+ within the past 0.5-9 years. d-FEN was found to augment the capacity of CD8+ lymphocytes to inhibit the growth of the opportunistic microbial pathogen, C. albicans. d-FEN enhanced the capacity of CD4+ lymphocytes to proliferate in response to the mitogen, Concanavalin A, and to increase the amount of IL-2 produced by CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes from AIDS patients. d-FEN increased the number of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes that produced IFN-gamma from either non-AIDS or AIDS patients and increased the number of AIDS patient's CD8+ lymphocytes that produce TNF-alpha. These in vitro data suggest that d-FEN may be effective in enhancing immune function in immunocompromised individuals.