Biomaterial Database

2-Mercaptoethanol and n-acetylcysteine enhance T cell colony formation in AIDS and ARC. 1989

J Wu, and E M Levy, and P H Black

Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, MA 02118.

One contributing factor to the loss of T cells in AIDS may be the impaired ability of T cell precursors to expand, as reflected in a decreased ability of patient cells to form T cell colonies in agar. We and others have noted such a defect in people with AIDS and ARC, and have found that suppressor cells and suppressive plasma contribute to decreased T-CFC formation. We report here that the reducing agents 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) and n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) can enhance colony formation in vitro. In part, 2-ME can reverse the defect in T cell colony-forming cells (T-CFC) formation by overcoming the effect of suppressor cells. In a group of 46 AIDS patients, T-CFC formation was initially 42 +/- 8% (mean +/- s.e.) that of control levels. 2-ME caused an increase of 401 +/- 76% in T-CFC formation which was significantly greater than the increase in control T-CFC formation; it also significantly enhanced T-CFC formation by cells from ARC patients. Suppressor cell activity from ten AIDS patients decreased from 58 +/- 21% to 12 +/- 10% when 2-ME was added. Similar data were obtained from 14 ARC patients. NAC, a related antioxidant with low toxicity, also enhanced T-CFC in cells of AIDS and ARC patients. Vitamin C generally did not increase T-CFC formation. The data suggest that certain antioxidants such as 2-ME and NAC may be useful in treatment protocols to enhance T cell numbers in patients with AIDS or ARC.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008623	Mercaptoethanol	A water-soluble thiol derived from hydrogen sulfide and ethanol. It is used as a reducing agent for disulfide bonds and to protect sulfhydryl groups from oxidation.	2-ME,2-Mercaptoethanol,2 Mercaptoethanol
D002455	Cell Division	The fission of a CELL. It includes CYTOKINESIS, when the CYTOPLASM of a cell is divided, and CELL NUCLEUS DIVISION.	M Phase,Cell Division Phase,Cell Divisions,Division Phase, Cell,Division, Cell,Divisions, Cell,M Phases,Phase, Cell Division,Phase, M,Phases, M
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000111	Acetylcysteine	The N-acetyl derivative of CYSTEINE. It is used as a mucolytic agent to reduce the viscosity of mucous secretions. It has also been shown to have antiviral effects in patients with HIV due to inhibition of viral stimulation by reactive oxygen intermediates.	Mercapturic Acid,Acemuc,Acetabs,Acetylcystein AL,Acetylcystein Atid,Acetylcystein Heumann,Acetylcystein Trom,Acetylcysteine Hydrochloride,Acetylcysteine Sodium,Acetylcysteine Zinc,Acetylcysteine, (D)-Isomer,Acetylcysteine, (DL)-Isomer,Acetylcysteine, Monoammonium Salt,Acetylcysteine, Monosodium Salt,Acetylin,Acetyst,Acétylcystéine GNR,Airbron,Alveolex,Azubronchin,Bisolvon NAC,Bromuc,Broncho-Fips,Broncholysin,Broncoclar,Codotussyl,Cystamucil,Dampo Mucopect,Eurespiran,Exomuc,Fabrol,Fluimucil,Fluprowit,Frekatuss,Genac,Hoestil,Ilube,Jenacystein,Jenapharm,Lantamed,Larylin NAC,Lindocetyl,M-Pectil,Muciteran,Muco Sanigen,Mucomyst,Mucosil,Mucosol,Mucosolvin,N-Acetyl-L-cysteine,N-Acetylcysteine,NAC AL,NAC Zambon,Optipect Hustengetränk,Siccoral,Siran,Solmucol,acebraus,durabronchal,mentopin Acetylcystein,Acetylcystein, mentopin,Acid, Mercapturic,Broncho Fips,BronchoFips,Hustengetränk, Optipect,Hydrochloride, Acetylcysteine,M Pectil,MPectil,Monoammonium Salt Acetylcysteine,Monosodium Salt Acetylcysteine,Mucopect, Dampo,N Acetyl L cysteine,N Acetylcysteine,NAC, Bisolvon,Sanigen, Muco,Sodium, Acetylcysteine,Zambon, NAC,Zinc, Acetylcysteine
D000163	Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome	An acquired defect of cellular immunity associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a CD4-positive T-lymphocyte count under 200 cells/microliter or less than 14% of total lymphocytes, and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and malignant neoplasms. Clinical manifestations also include emaciation (wasting) and dementia. These elements reflect criteria for AIDS as defined by the CDC in 1993.	AIDS,Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes,Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes,Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Immunodeficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Syndrome, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndrome, Acquired Immunodeficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immunodeficiency
D000386	AIDS-Related Complex	A prodromal phase of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Laboratory criteria separating AIDS-related complex (ARC) from AIDS include elevated or hyperactive B-cell humoral immune responses, compared to depressed or normal antibody reactivity in AIDS; follicular or mixed hyperplasia in ARC lymph nodes, leading to lymphocyte degeneration and depletion more typical of AIDS; evolving succession of histopathological lesions such as localization of Kaposi's sarcoma, signaling the transition to the full-blown AIDS.	ARC,Lymphadenopathy Syndrome,AIDS Related Complex,Complex, AIDS-Related,Lymphadenopathy Syndromes,Syndrome, Lymphadenopathy,Syndromes, Lymphadenopathy
D013601	T-Lymphocytes	Lymphocytes responsible for cell-mediated immunity. Two types have been identified - cytotoxic (T-LYMPHOCYTES, CYTOTOXIC) and helper T-lymphocytes (T-LYMPHOCYTES, HELPER-INDUCER). They are formed when lymphocytes circulate through the THYMUS GLAND and differentiate to thymocytes. When exposed to an antigen, they divide rapidly and produce large numbers of new T cells sensitized to that antigen.	T Cell,T Lymphocyte,T-Cells,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocytes,Cell, T,Cells, T,Lymphocyte, T,Lymphocyte, Thymus-Dependent,Lymphocytes, T,Lymphocytes, Thymus-Dependent,T Cells,T Lymphocytes,T-Cell,T-Lymphocyte,Thymus Dependent Lymphocytes,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocyte
D050378	T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory	CD4-positive T cells that inhibit immunopathology or autoimmune disease in vivo. They inhibit the immune response by influencing the activity of other cell types. Regulatory T-cells include naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ cells, IL-10 secreting Tr1 cells, and Th3 cells.	Regulatory T Cell,Regulatory T-Cell,Regulatory T-Lymphocyte,Regulatory T-Lymphocytes,Suppressor T-Lymphocytes, Naturally-Occurring,T-Cells, Regulatory,Th3 Cells,Tr1 Cell,Treg Cell,Regulatory T-Cells,Suppressor T-Cells, Naturally-Occurring,Tr1 Cells,Treg Cells,Cell, Regulatory T,Cell, Th3,Cell, Tr1,Cell, Treg,Cells, Regulatory T,Cells, Th3,Cells, Tr1,Cells, Treg,Naturally-Occurring Suppressor T-Cell,Naturally-Occurring Suppressor T-Cells,Naturally-Occurring Suppressor T-Lymphocyte,Naturally-Occurring Suppressor T-Lymphocytes,Regulatory T Cells,Regulatory T Lymphocyte,Regulatory T Lymphocytes,Suppressor T Cells, Naturally Occurring,Suppressor T Lymphocytes, Naturally Occurring,Suppressor T-Cell, Naturally-Occurring,Suppressor T-Lymphocyte, Naturally-Occurring,T Cell, Regulatory,T Cells, Regulatory,T Lymphocytes, Regulatory,T-Cell, Naturally-Occurring Suppressor,T-Cells, Naturally-Occurring Suppressor,T-Lymphocyte, Regulatory,Th3 Cell