Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Novel Protocol for Generating Physiologic Immunogenic Dendritic Cells
Published on: May 17, 2019
Immunological parameters during treatment with ditiocarb (Imuthiol)
G L Vanham1, L Kestens, J Van Hoof
1Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Insights
Ditiocarb (DTC) did not improve immunological parameters in HIV infection. This study found no beneficial immunomodulatory effects of DTC on T-cell function or viral load markers.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection significantly impacts the immune system, particularly T-cells.
- Ditiocarb (DTC) is a drug investigated for its potential immunomodulatory effects.
- Understanding DTC's impact on HIV-related immune dysregulation is crucial for therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of ditiocarb (DTC) in modulating immunological parameters in patients with HIV infection.
- To assess DTC's effect on T-cell counts, activation markers, function (proliferation and cytotoxicity), and viral markers.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 50 HIV-seropositive patients over 4 months.
- Immunophenotyping using flow cytometry to analyze CD4+ T-cells and CD8+ T-cell activation markers (HLA-DR, CD38, CD45RO, CD57).
- Assays for anti-CD3-induced T-cell proliferation and anti-CD3-mediated cytotoxicity; monitoring of HIV antigen and anti-p24 antibody levels.
Main Results:
- DTC treatment showed no significant effect on CD4+ or CD8+ T-cell counts or general CD8+ T-cell activation markers.
- A selective increase in HLA-DR expressing CD8+ cells was noted in the DTC group.
- Both DTC and placebo groups exhibited a decline in T-cell proliferation and a rise in T-cell cytotoxicity; no changes in viral markers or clinical complications were observed.
Conclusions:
- Ditiocarb (DTC) demonstrated no beneficial immunomodulatory effect in HIV-infected patients.
- The study did not support the use of DTC for improving immune status in HIV infection.
Objectives:
To examine the effect of ditiocarb (DTC) treatment on immunological parameters of HIV infection. Immunophenotyping included CD4+ T-cell counting and the analysis of activation markers on CD8+ T cells. Anti-CD3-induced proliferation and anti-CD3-mediated cytotoxicity were monitored as indexes of T-cell function. In addition to the clinical evolution, HIV antigen and anti-p24 levels were monitored during treatment.
Design:
In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 50 HIV-seropositive patients belonging to all clinical disease stages were randomized to treatment with DTC or placebo and followed for 4 months.
Methods:
Immunophenotyping on whole blood was performed by flow cytometry, using combinations of anti-CD8 with anti-CD4, anti-HLA-DR, anti-CD38, anti-CD45RO and anti-CD57. Patient lymphocytes were freshly assayed for cytolytic capacity against OKT3-coated targets. T-cell proliferation was measured after 3 days of OKT3-stimulation.
Results:
No effect was observed on CD4 and CD8+ T-cell counts or on CD8+ T-cell activation markers, except for a selective increase in HLA-DR expressing CD8 cells in the DTC-treated group. Decline in anti-CD3-induced T-cell proliferation and rise in anti-CD3-mediated T-cell cytotoxicity were observed in the DTC and placebo groups. No effect on HIV antigen and anti-p24 antibody titres was observed. The incidence of clinical complications was similar in each group.
Conclusion:
No beneficial immunomodulatory effect of DTC was demonstrated.
