Abstract
In the present study we demonstrate that flupirtine, an already clinically used, centrally acting, non-opiate analgesic agent, protects rat cortical neurons against HIV-gp120 induced apoptotic cell death. The drug was active at concentrations between 1 and 10 μg/ml. Furthermore we show inhibition of in vitro induced apoptosis in human blood mononuclear cells, using flupirtine. Induced apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy individuals and HIV-1 infected patients was reduced to approximately 50% after in vitro preincubation with flupirtine at concentrations between 0.1 and 10 μg/ml. The anti-apoptotic effect of flupirtine was restricted to CD3+ lymphocytes and in particular to CD4+ cells. Flupirtine does not affect uninduced apoptosis in human lymphocytes in vitro. The selective potential of flupirtine to reduce apoptosis without influencing uninduced apoptosis may qualify this compound as a potential drug in the therapy of HIV-1 infected patients.
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Müller, W., Dobmeyer, J., Dobmeyer, T. et al. Flupirtine protects both neuronal cells and lymphocytes against induced apoptosis in vitro: Implications for treatment of AIDS patients. Cell Death Differ 4, 51–58 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.cdd.4400206
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.cdd.4400206
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