IN-VIVO DRUG SCREENING APPLICATIONS OF HIV-INFECTED CELLS CULTIVATED WITHIN HOLLOW FIBERS IN 2 PHYSIOLOGICAL COMPARTMENTS OF MICE

Previous studies demonstrated that human cell lines can be cultivated in hollow fibers in the subcutaneous and intraperitoneal compartment o f mice. We have extended the range of cell lines to include cells infe cted with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Furthermore, these H IV-infected cells have been shown to replicate in the hollow fibers lo cated in both physiologic compartments (intraperitoneal and subcutaneo us) of SCID mice. Treatment of the host mice with antiviral agents can suppress virus replication in these hollow fiber cultures. The potent ial use of this system for early in vivo screening of anti-HIV compoun ds is discussed.