Synthesis of an Inhibitor of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Abstract

Anti-HIV effects of lentinan sulfate were investigated by using an HTLV-I-carrying cell line, MT-4, in vitro. Lentinan, a fungal branches (1 .fwdarw. 3)-.beta.-D-glucan, was sulfated to various degrees by means of two kinds of procedures usig piperidine N-sulfonic acid in dimethyl sulfoxide or chlorosulfonic acid in pyridine. Lentinan sulfate with a sulfur content of more than 13.9% effectively prevented HIV-induced cytopathic effects (CPE0 at concentrations of more than 3.3 .mu.g/ml. However, low-substituted lentinan sulfate did not prevent HIV-induced CPE at any concentration tested. When the counter-cation was 50% Na+ and 50% pyridinium ion, the inhibitory capacity was low. Anticoagulant activity of the lentinan sulfate was also assessed.