Biomedical subjects
K E Lacy
Publications and source records attributed to K E Lacy.
Enhancement of cellular immune response in HIV-1 seropositive individuals: A DNA-based trial.
A DNA-based vaccine containing HIV-1 Env and Rev genes was tested for safety and host immune response in 15 HIV-infected asymptomatic patients with CD4-positive lymphocyte counts >/=500/microl of blood and receiving no antiviral therapy. Successive groups of patients received three doses of vaccine at 30, 100, or 300 microg at 10-week intervals in a dose-escalation trial. Some changes were noted in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity against gp160-bearing targets. Importantly, enhanced specific lymphocyte proliferative activity against HIV-1 envelope was observed in multiple patients. Three of three patients in the 300-microg dose group also developed increased MIP-1alpha levels which were detectable in their serum. Interestingly patients in the lowest dose group showed no overall changes in the immune parameters measured. The majority of patients who exhibited increases in any immune parameters were contained within the 300 microg, which was the highest dose group. These studies support further investigation of this technology for the production of antigen-specific immune responses in humans.
First human trial of a DNA-based vaccine for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection: safety and host response.
A DNA-based vaccine containing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) env and rev genes was tested for safety and host immune response in 15 asymptomatic HIV-infected patients who were not using antiviral drugs and who had CD4+ lymphocyte counts of > or = 500 per microliter of blood. Successive groups received three doses of vaccine (30, 100, or 300 microg) at 10-week intervals in a dose-escalation trial. Vaccine administration induced no local or systemic reactions, and no laboratory abnormalities were detected. Specifically, no patient developed anti-DNA antibody or muscle enzyme elevations. No consistent change occurred in CD4 or CD8 lymphocyte counts or in plasma HIV concentration. Antibody against gp120 increased in individual patients in the 100- and 300-/microg groups. Some increases were noted in cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity against gp160-bearing targets and in lymphocyte proliferative activity. The safety and potential immunogenicity of an HIV-directed DNA-based vaccine was demonstrated, a finding that should encourage further studies.