Immunoliposome targeting to CD4+ cells in human blood.

Liposomes were prepared from phospholipid formulations recognized or ignored by cells of the reticuloendothelial system (RES+ve or RES-ve, respectively). The ability of these liposomes to interact with CD4+ve cells in purified leukocyte fractions or in whole blood has been determined. RES+ve liposomes bound to monocytes in purified leukocyte fractions or in whole blood, but did not bind to lymphocytes. RES-ve liposomes did not bind to either monocytes or lymphocytes. The attachment of an anti-Leu3A (CD4) monoclonal antibody to the outer surface of RES-ve liposomes resulted in their interaction with both monocytes and lymphocytes. The binding was blocked by prior incubation of the leukocytes with free anti-Leu3A antibody. RES+ve liposomes were rapidly eliminated from the circulation of mice after intravenous injection, whereas RES-ve liposomes remained in the circulation for prolonged periods of time (half-life much greater than 5 h), even after incubation with the opsinizing acute-phase reactant, C-reactive protein. These results suggest that RES-ve liposomes possessing surface-bound anti-Leu3A may provide a means of targeting antiviral agents to those cells at risk from HIV infection.