Potent and Selective Activity of Dextrin Sulphate against Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in vitro

Abstract

Several dextrin sulphate derivatives were prepared and investigated for their activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in vitro. These compounds have proved to be potent and selective inhibitors of HIV-1. One of the compounds, termed FG-752 [molecular weight (MW) 3000], was the most active, and its 50% antiviral effective concentration was 2.1 μg ml⁻¹ (0.7 μm) in MT-4 cells. No toxicity for the cells was observed at a concentration of 500 μg ml⁻¹. The compounds were also inhibitory to HIV-1-induced giant cell (syncytium) formation. These results suggest that dextrin sulphate may be useful for the chemotherapy of HIV-1 infections.