Inhibition of HIV and SHIV Replication with Antisense Interleukin-4

Abstract

A method of treating or preventing SHIV or HIV infection in a subject comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a antisense IL-4. The antisense IL-4 inhibits viral replication in the liver, lungs, spleen, and even the lymph nodes of the subject. Further, the antisense IL-4 can be used in combination with other antiretroviral agents or vaccines.

1 . An isolated DNA molecule having a sequence encoding at least one viral protein capable of stimulating an immune response against HIV, at least one non-functional gene, wherein the nonfunctional gene makes the DNA molecule non-pathogenic, and antisense DNA of IL-4. 
     
     
         2 . The isolated DNA molecule of  claim 1  further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         3 . The isolated DNA molecule of  claim 1  wherein the sequence encoding viral protein includes at least one of the coding sequences selected from a group consisting of gag, pro, tat, rev, vpu, env, vpx, and nef genes of either SIV or HIV. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated DNA molecule of  claim 1  wherein the sequence comprises (a) the 5′ LTR of SIV; (b) the gag gene of HIV; (c) the pro gene of HIV; (d) the vpx gene of SIV; (e) antisense DNA of IL-4, (f) the nef gene of HIV; (g) the rev gene of HIV; (h) the tat gene of HIV; (i) the env gene of HIV; and (j) an SV40 polyadenylation sequence, wherein at least one of the HIV or SIV genes is non-functional. 
     
     
         5 . A method of providing an immune response against HIV comprising administering to a subject a DNA composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the isolated DNA molecule of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising administering to the subject a composition selected from the group consisting of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and DNA encoding granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.