| abstract |
HIV-directed inhibitors of the natural 2′-5′A antiviral defense pathway, diagnostic procedures and materials, and modalities for treating viral disorders are described. HIV-induced inhibitors of RNase L in patients with lymphadenopathy (LAS), AIDS-related complex (ARC) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) were isolated and identified. Functional 2-5A is not able to activate RNase L in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in these patients; endogenous dsRNA, especially mismatched dsRNA, activates 2-5A synthetase which results in an increased concentration by endogenous 2-5A. |