EFFECT OF THE COMBINATION OF INTERFERON-ALPHA AND STAVUDINE ON FRIEND-VIRUS INFECTIONS IN (B10.A X A.BY)F-1 MICE

The anti-Friend leukemia virus (FLV) effects of interferon-alpha-A/D ( IFN-alpha) and 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (stavudine) used alone and in combination were examined in Mus dunni cells using a che ckerboard-type experiment design. Strong antiviral synergy and a sugge sted cytotoxic synergy were seen. In two experiments to evaluate the e ffect of combining therapy with IFN-alpha and stavudine against FLV di sease in the hybrid mouse strain (B10.A X A.By) F-1, which is a strong producer of cytotoxic T cells, the drug combination resulted in bette r inhibition of FLV disease than did either drug used alone. Combinati on therapy inhibited splenomegaly, splenic virus infectious centers, p lasma virus, and the virus-induced increase in hematocrit to a greater degree than did either drug alone. These data indicate that combinati on therapy with stavudine and IFN-alpha is effective in the treatment of murine retrovirus infections and may be of value in the treatment o f human AIDS.