Dideoxyinosine in the Murine Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Model1

The efficacy and toxicity of ribavirin (25 or 1 25 mg/kg/day), 2’,3’-dideoxyinosine (ddl) (200 mg/kg/day) and a combination of both drugs at these doses given for 6 weeks were investi-gated in the murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome model. Our results showed a significant protection against splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and hypergammaglobuline-mia in mice treated with ribavirin at 25 mg/kg/day alone or in combination with ddl at 200 mg/kg/day. A good synergistic effect was observed with the drug combination, whereas ddl alone (200 mg/kg/day) did not give any protection. Ribavirin/ddl combination protected against the loss of CD8 T cells in spleen and restored the capacity of splenocytes to proliferate after activation with a mitogenic agent. Moreover, the drug combi-nation resulted in a protection of the spleen and cervical lymph node architectures and a regression of germinal centers. He