DIFFERENTIAL EFFECT OF THE IMMUNOMODULATORY HORMONE SOMATOSTATIN ON REPLICATION OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 IN CD4(+) AND CD8(+) T-LYMPHOCYTES

The long-acting somatostatin analog octreotide (SMS 201-995) possesses immunosuppressive properties and has been successfully used for the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated diarrhea, a condition commonly observed in the absence of known enteric pathogens. Since HIV type 1 (HIV-1) replication can occur in both CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes, we hypothesized that this benefit might be due to local effects on HIV-1 replication in these two T-cell subsets. As a model, we studied the effects of two synthetic molecules, SRIH 1-14 and SRIH 1-28, closely related to naturally occurring forms of somatostatin, as well as SMS 201-995 on HIV-1 replication in CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We found that HIV-1 replication was inhibited in CD8(+) cells but enhanced in infected CD4(+) lymphocytes, as measured by p24 antigen levels in culture fluids. These differential effects were drug concentration dependent. We also observed that somatostatin inhibited the mitogen-induced proliferative responsiveness of both cell types. These effects on both HIV-1 replication and cell proliferation were independent of somatostatin gene expression, since somatostatin mRNAs were not detected in mitogen-stimulated PBMC, as determined by reverse transcription-PCR.