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We have employed a recombinant plasmid, pBHIV1, carrying the long terminal repeat (LTR) sequence of the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) linked to the reporter chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene and to the aminoglycoside phosphotransferase (aph) gene as a selectable marker. We have introduced pBHIV1 in rat 208F and human MRCSV40TGR fibroblasts and obtained stable geneticin resistant RFBHIV1-1 and SVTGHIV1-1 cells, respectively. Both transfectant cells express CAT activity from the HIV LTR promoter. The response to anti-neoplastic drug hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) was studied on the LTR regulated CAT activity in both cell lines. It was found that HMBA at 5mM concentration stimulates the expression of CAT from the HIV LTR in rat and human cells by 28- and 1.9-fold, respectively.

A recombinant plasmid carrying the long terminal repeat (LTR) of the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) linked to the reporter chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene was stably introduced into human fibroblasts. The transfectant cells expressed CAT activity from the HIV LTR. The response to anti-neoplastic drugs, i.e. cisplatin, a platin derivative, and hexadecylphosphocholine, was studied. It was found that at 5 x 10(-6) M concentrations cisplatin stimulates by 2.2-fold the expression of CAT from the HIV LTR. Our results extend our observations on the effect of cisplatin on HIV LTR in rodent fibroblast cells and suggest caution against therapy including cisplatin in the treatment of AIDS patients.