Acquired immunodeficiancy syndrome (AIDS) is generally accepted to be a consequence of infection with the retrovirus designated as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-l). Stavudine is a potent and selective inhibitor of HIV-replication and of cytopathic effects in a variety of mammalian cells, and is relatively non-toxic to the uninfected human T-cell line H9. Stavudine, phosphorylates cellular enzymes to the mono-, di-, and triphosphates and is ultimately incorporated into the DNA of growing cells. A significant amount of radioactivity appears in the alkaline labile fraction of cells which are treated with Stavudine, due to terminal addition of Stavudine to DNA and the resultant chain termination.

Stavudine Pathway References