Molecular Orientation Drugs Cd <sub> 4 </ Sub> V <sub> 1 </ Sub> V <sub> 2 </ Sub>-pe40 By Il-2 (60)-pe40 By Gene Cloning And Expression

Human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) is the causative agent of AIDS ( acquired immune deficiency syndrome ) . HIV infects T helper lymphocytes by the specific binding of the HIV envelope glycoprotein gpl20 to a portion of CD₄, the T-lymphocyte surface molecule which serves as the HIV receptor. It was proved that the surface of HIV-infected cells would bear gpl20. Here we joined a cDNA coding for CD₄V₁V₂, to the 5' end of PE40, a modified Pseudomonas exotoxin gene. The gene PE40 contains the sequences encoding domain II and domain III that are responsible for translocation and ADP-ribosylation respectively, but lacks the sequences encoding domain I, the cell recognition domain. The chimeric protein, designated CD₄-PE40, was expressed in E. coli and purified. The crude product displays selective and targeting toxicity toward the cells expressing SIV ( Simian immunodeficiency virus) envelope glycoprotein gpl2 0 and thus represents a promising novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of AIDS.Activated IL-2 receptor-positive lymphocytes have been found to accumulate as cellular infiltrates in many diseases, such as autoimmune .thyroid disease,...