Thiamine disulfide, a vitamin B1 derivative, is an oxidized dimer of Thiamine. Thiamine disulfide is a potent HIV-1 inhibitor. Thiamine disulfide significantly depresses HIV-1 transactivator (Tat) activity[1][2].
Thiamine disulfide markedly inhibits production of progeny HIV-1 in acute and chronic HIV-1-infected CEM at nontoxic concentrations of 500-1000 μM. Thiamine disulfide (500 μM) blocks 99.7% of HIV-1 production after 96 hours culture in acute HIV-1 (LAV-1) infection, whereas it inhibits 90-98% of HIV-1 production in chronic-infected cells (CEM/LAV-1, H9/MN, and Molt-4/IIIB)[1].
[1]. S Shoji, et al. Thiamine disulfide as a potent inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus (type-1) production. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1994 Nov 30;205(1):967-75.
[2]. Y Komata, et al. In vitro percutaneous absorption of thiamine disulfide from a mixture of propylene glycol and fatty acid. J Pharm Sci. 1992 Aug;81(8):744-6.