Enhancement of human immunodeficiency virus production by natural lymphotoxin.

The effect of natural lymphotoxin (n-LT) on CD4+ MOLT-4 cells and those cells producing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), MOLT-4/HIVHTLV-IIIB cells, was studied. Four days after treatment with n-LT, a significant cytotoxic/cytostatic effect was observed predominantly on MOLT-4/HIVHTLV-IIIB cells. Furthermore, with regard to the production of HIV, an almost 3- to 5-fold increase of viral particles was observed in MOLT-4/HIVHTLV-IIIB cells 6 h after treatment with n-LT. These data indicate the possibility that this cytotoxic factor is one of the responsible molecules in the pathogenesis of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).