Abstract
In order to assay the efficacy of newly synthesized antiviral compounds, in vitro studies of their active intracellular phosphorylated metabolites were established as compared with Zidovudine (ZDV). Antiviral base analogs require intracellular phosphorylation prior to the inhibition of HIV replication. Therefore, antiviral drugs concentrations in plasma have not reflected any direct relationship with activity or toxicity. A method has been developed to measure the concentration of total phosphorylated metabolites inside peripheral blood mononuclear cells using modified commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA). ZDV 5'-monophosphate was synthesized and used as a procedural control for RIA modification. PBMCs were isolated from whole blood and incubated with ZDV for 20 h to allow metabolic phosphorylation. Viable cells were extracted overnight with 60% methanol. After evaporation, the extract was reconstituted in Tris buffer. Samples were split into two fractions, one of which was treated with alkaline phosphatase (AP) to liberate phosphate groups. Concentrations of phosphorylated metabolites were determined by subtracting thε concentration of non-AP-treated fraction from that of the treated fraction. Recovery of phosphorylated ZDV from cell extracts was approximately 90%, and reproducibility was acceptable (coefficients of variation <15% for concentrations${\geq}$0.25 ng/mL). Intracellular concentrations $(0.135{\sim}5.019\;nmole/10^6\;cells)$ followed a nonlinear dose-response relationship over the range $0.015{\sim}2.996mM$ extracellular ZDV, with concentration-dependant saturation.
