LITHIUM GAMMA-LINOLENATE-INDUCED CYTOTOXICITY AGAINST CELLS CHRONICALLY INFECTED WITH HIV-1

Lithium gamma-linolenate (Li-GLA), was evaluated for its activity in s electively killing H9 cells chronically infected with HIV-1RF. After 4 days incubation with Li-GLA approximately 90% of the H9RF cells were non-viable compared to 20% of uninfected H9 cells. The efficacy of the Li-GLA, in preferentially killing HIV infected cells also correlates with lipid peroxidation, as measured by the intracellular thiobarbitur ic acid-reactive material content. The addition of an antioxidant (vit amin E) to the culture medium reduced the toxicity of Li-GLA. These da ta indicate that this selective killing effect of cells chronically in fected with HIV may be due to the enhanced extent of lipid peroxidatio n of the added Li-GLA.