Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Transfer factor prevents relapses in herpes keratitis patients: A pilot study

  • Published:
Biotherapy

Abstract

Transfer Factor is a dialysable moiety obtained from immune lymphocytes. It has been successfully used for the treatment of several viral infections including labial and genital herpes. In the present study, thirty-three patients with low immune response to HSV antigens and suffering from herpes ocular infections were orally treated with HSV-specific transfer factor (TF). Their relapse index was reduced from 20.1 before treatment to 0.51 after TF administration, with only 6/33 patients relapsing. Although this is not a placebo-controlled-randomized study, the results suggest that TF specific for HSV antigens may be efficacious for preventing relapses of ocular herpes infections as has been the case with genital and labial localisations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

CMI:

Cell-mediated immunity

CMV:

Cytomegalo-virus

EBV:

Epstein-Barr virus

HIV:

Human immunodeficiency virus

HK:

Herpes keratitis

HSV:

Herpes simplex virus

IRI:

Individual relapse index

KU:

Kerato-uveitis

LMT:

Leucocyte migration test

LST:

Lymphocyte stimulation test

MIF:

Migration inhibition factor

RHK:

Relapsing herpes keratitis

TF:

Transfer factor

References

  1. Abramson A, Khan A, Tate GW, Jr, Martin RG, Hill NO. Immunocompetence and transfer factor therapy in uveitis. Br J Ophth 1980; 64: 332–38.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ashorn RGI, Räsänen L, Marnela K-M, Krohn KJE. Human transfer factor in vitro. Clin Exp Immunol 1979; 37: 50–57.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Berger R, Luescher D, Shore S. Booster-immunizations with live varicella-zoster vaccine (OKA-SK-RIT) in healthy 50–60 years old adults. In: Kaplan AS, La Placa M, Rapp F, Roizman B, eds. International workshop on herpesviruses. Bologna: Esculapio, 1981: 195.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Centifanto YP, Zam ZS, McNeil JL, Kaufman HE. Leukocytes migration inhibitory factor in HSV infections. Invest Ophtalm Vis Sci 1978; 17: 863–68.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Denis J, Hoang-Xuan T, Bonissent JF, Dogbe K, Clay C, Viza D, Rosenfeld F, Phillips J, Vich JM. Experimental and clinical preliminary study of immunomodulators in the treatment of ocular herpes. In: Maudgal PC, Missotten L, eds. Herpetic eye diseases. Dordrecht: Dr W Junk Publishers, 1985: 111–18.

    Google Scholar 

  6. For a recent review on tranfer factor see: Fudenberg HH, Pizza G. Transfer Factor 1993: New Frontiers. In: Ernest Tucker, Progress in Drug Research. Basel: Burkhäuser 1994; 42: 309–400.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Lawrence HS: The transfer in humans of delayed skin sensitivity to streptococci M substance and to tuberculin with disrupted leukocytes. J Clin Inv 1955; 34: 219.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Neequaye J, Viza D, Pizza G, Levine PH, De Vinci C, Ablashi DV, Biggar RJ, Nkrumah FK. Specific transfer factor with activity against Epstein-Barr virus reduces late relapse in endemic Burkitt's lymphoma. Anticanc R 1990; 10: 1183–87.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Nkrumah F, Pizza G, Viza D, Phillips J, De Vinci C, Levine P. Regression of progressive lymphadenopathy in a young child with acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection following the administration of transfer factor with specific anti-CMV activity. Lymphok Res 1985; 4: 237–41.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Pass R, Dwoorsky ME, August AM. Specific lymphocytes transformation responses with acquired Cytomegalovirus and Herpes simplex virus infection of early infancy. In: Kaplan AS, La Placa M, Rapp F, Roizman B, eds. International workshop on herpesviruses. Bologna: Esculapio, 1981: 193.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Pizza G, Severini G, Menniti D, De Vinci C, Corrado F: Tumour regression after intralesional injection of Interleukin-2 (IL2) in bladder cancer. Preliminary Report. Int J Cancer, 1984: 34: 359–367.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Plotkin SA. Vaccination against human Cytomegalovirus and Varicella-Zoster virus. In: Kaplan AS, La Placa M, Rapp F, Roizman B, eds. International workshop on herpesviruses. Bologna: Esculapio, 1981: 189.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Roda E, Viza D, Pizza G, Mastroroberto L, Phillips J, De Vinci C, Barbara L. Transfer factor for the treatment of H Bs Agpositive chronic active hepatitis. P Soc Exp Med 1985; 178: 468–75.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Rosenfeld F, Viza D, Phillips J, Vich JM, Binet O, AronBrunetière R. Traitement des infections herpétiques par le facteur de transfert. Presse Méd 1984; 13: 537–40.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Søberg M, Bendixen G. Human lymphocyte migration as a parameter of hypersensitivity. Acta Med Scand 1967; 181: 247–53.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Steele R. W., Myers M. G., and Vincent M. M.: Transfer factor for the prevention of varicella zoster infection in childhood leukemia. New Engl. J. Med., 1980; 303: 355–359.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Viza D, Boucheix Cl, Césarini JP, Ablashi DV, Armstrong G, Levine P, Pizza G. Characterization of a human lymphoblastoid cell line, LDV/7, used to replicate transfer factor and immune RNA. Bio Cell 1982; 46: 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Viza D, Goust JM, Moulias R, Trejdosiewicz LK, Collard A, Müller-Bérat N. ‘In vitro’ production of transfer factor by lymphoblastoid cell lines. Transplan P 1975; VII (suppl. 1): 329–33.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Viza D, Lefesvre A, Patrasco M, Phillips J, Hebbrecht N, Laumond G, Vich JM. A preliminary report on three AIDS patients treated with anti-HIV specific transfer factor. J Exp Path 1987; 3: 653–59.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Viza D, Rosenfeld F, Phillips J, Vich JM, Denis J, Bonissent JF, Dogbe K. Specific bovine transfer factor for the treatment of herpes infections. In: Kirkpatrick CH, Burger DR, Lawrence HS, eds. Immunobiology of transfer factor. New York: Academic Press, 1983: 245–59.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Viza D, Vich JM, Minarro A, Ablashi DV, Sala-huddin SZ. Soluble extracts from a lymphoblastoid cell line modulate SAIDS evolution. J Virol Met 1988; 21: 241–53.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Viza D, Vich JM, Phillips J, Davies DAL. Use of specific transfer factor for the prevention or the treatment of herpes infections in mice and in man. J Exp Path 1987; 3: 407–20.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Viza D, Vich JM, Phillips J, Rosenfeld F. Orally administered specific transfer factor for the treatment of herpes infections. Lymphok Res 1985; 4: 27–30.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Viza D, Vich JM, Phillips J, Rosenfeld F, Davies DAL. Specific transfer factor protects mice against lethal challenge with herpes simplex virus. Cell Immun 1986; 100: 555–62.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Wilson GB, Smith CL, Fudenberg HH. Effects of dialyzable leukocyte extracts (DLEs) with transfer factor activity on leukocyte migration in vitro. J Allerg Cl 1979; 64: 55–66.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Immunodiagnosis and Immunotherapy Unit, 1st Division of Urology, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy

    Giancarlo Pizza & Caterina De Vinci

  2. Ophthalmology Clinic, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy

    Renato Meduuri & Lucia Scorolli

  3. URA 1294 CNRS, Faculté de Médecine, Laboratoire d 'Immunobiologie, Paris, France

    Dimitri Viza

Authors
  1. Giancarlo Pizza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Renato Meduuri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Caterina De Vinci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lucia Scorolli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dimitri Viza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pizza, G., Meduuri, R., De Vinci, C. et al. Transfer factor prevents relapses in herpes keratitis patients: A pilot study. Biotherapy 8, 63–68 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01878122

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01878122

Key words

Search

Navigation