VIRUCIDAL EFFECT OF MYELOPEROXIDASE ON HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE 1-INFECTED T-CELLS

Myeloperoxidase is virucidal to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (H IV-1) in the persistently infected CEM human T-cell line or in acutely infected human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, as judged by viral infectivity and P24 radioimmunoassay. HIV-1 was specifically inactiva ted by low doses of the human myeloperoxidase (1.4 to 14.3 mU/ml) and the cells were spared. A higher enzyme concentration (143 mU/m) was cy totoxic, but uninfected CEM cells and normal lymphocytes were resistan t to greater than or equal to 143 mU of myeloperoxidase per mt. The en zyme was virucidal with the Cl- present in medium and did not require exogenous H2O2. Catalase, an antioxidant enzyme, partially inhibited t he virucidal effect of myeloperoxidase. Hence, the H2O2 probably came from the HIV-infected cells themselves. These in vitro findings indica te that the myeloperoxidase system is capable of inactivating HIV-1 of infected cells.