REVERSAL OF FERRITIN-MEDIATED IMMUNOSUPPRESSION BY LEVAMISOLE - A RATIONALE FOR ITS APPLICATION TO MANAGEMENT OF THE ACQUIRED-IMMUNE-DEFICIENCY-SYNDROME (AIDS)

Ferritin is a complex polypeptide which functions primarily as an iron -storage protein. Ferritin may also play a role in the modulation of i mmune function. It is known to suppress several global measures of the immune response. Specifically, ferritin may mask and/or down-regulate expression of cell surface molecules important in T-cell activation a nd effector functions. These interactions may become pathologically si gnificant in conditions where marked hyperferritinemia occurs, most no tably malignancies and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Levamisole appears to possess immunomodulatory properties and be capab le of disrupting the interaction of ferritin with T lymphocytes. This activity may be therapeutically useful in conditions of ferritin exces s, such as progressive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection an d its associated opportunistic complications.