Saquinavir up-regulates telomerase activity in lymphocytes activated with monoclonal antibodies against CD3/CD28

The present study describes the effect of the HIV protease inhibitor saquin avir on telomerase activity and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production of nonadherent mononuclear cells (NA-MNC). Cells obtained from peripheral bloo d of healthy donors were exposed in vitro to a mixture of monoclonal antibo dies against CD3 and CD28 membrane antigens in order to activate prevalentl y T cell subsets. Treatment with saquinavir was performed at the time of ce ll stimulation. Thereafter, NA-MNC were tested for telomerase activity (TRA P assay) and interferon-gamma production up to 7 days later. The results sh ow that saquinavir up-regulates telomerase activity and IFN-gamma release i n activated NA-MNC. These observations suggest that the anti-HIV effects of saquinavir could be accompanied by other immunopharmacological properties, influencing some aspects of the functional activity of immunocompetent cel ls. These include possible antagonistic effects against lymphocyte senescen ce, through telomerase activation, and a potentiating activity on the produ ction of IFN-gamma following T cell activation.