Affinity hemodialysis for antiviral therapy. II. Removal of HIV-1 viral proteins from cell culture supernatants and whole blood

Background: HIV-1 gp120 may play a role in the progression from HIV infection to AIDS. Aims: We investigated affinity hemodialysis for removing gp120 from cell culture and whole blood. Methods: Anti-gp120 antibodies covalently coupled to agarose beads were packed into columns or hollow-fiber hemodialysis cartridges. Supernatants from HIV-infected HL2/3 cells or gp120 containing whole blood were pumped over the columns and gp120 measured by ELISA. Results: Anti-gp120 agarose removed ∼90% of HIV-1 gp120 from HL2/3 cultures in 30-60 min. Capture was antibody-dependent (F105>IDX 1121>ABI 13-108). Affinity hemodialysis also efficiently captured gp120 from buffer in a first-order, flow-rate-dependent fashion (t_1/2 = 13 min at 0.9 ml/min). Clearance was faster than calculated diffusion (t_1/2 ∼2.5 h) suggesting significant convective transport. gp120 removal from blood was slower (t_1/2 = 1.4 h). Conclusion: Affinity hemodialysis efficiently clears gp120 from cell culture fluids and blood and may be useful in slowing the progression to AIDS.