Herma C. Neyndorff

Photosensitizers as virucidal agents.

The photosensitizer, benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A (BPD-MA) has been studied regarding its ability to destroy enveloped viruses in blood and blood products when activated by light. Its maximum wavelength of absorption (690 nm) has proven useful in terms of activation of the photosensitizer in materials containing red blood cells. Experiments conducted on whole blood of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) demonstrated that BPD-MA and light could effectively eliminate the virus when treated materials were placed in culture and tested for viral p24, but did not appear to damage blood cells or blood components. Since HIV is largely intracellular in infected individuals, these results were investigated further. We have shown, using flow cytometry, that in HIV-infected blood, BPD-MA and light appear to selectively destroy white cells that bear the interleukin 2 receptor and the DR antigen. These markers are prevalent on activated lymphocytes, and since HIV replicates only in CD4+ T cells which are activated, this finding provides an explanation for the selective killing of HIV.

Treatment of experimental murine arthritis with transdermal photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using benzoporphyrin derivative, monoacid ring A (BPD), and transdermal light was able to significantly treat symptoms of adjuvant-enhanced arthritis in MRL-lpr mice. Clinical and histological evaluation showed that PDT was able to modify the progression of adjuvant-enhanced arthritis up to 10 days after induction. When PDT was used on arthritic joints displaying swelling, it prevented further deterioration of clinical symptoms (76%, 16/21). However, it did not significantly effect the histopathologic parameters. As we have previously reported that mitogen activated MRL-lpr splenocytes were shown to be more susceptible to in vitro PDT we postulate that our findings reflect a selective destruction of adjuvant activated lymphocytes in the circulation and/or joints. The application of PDT to eliminate activated cells responsible for the inflammatory reaction at the arthritic site may have significant clinical implications for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.