title: Patterns of interferon-gamma production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: A number of immune parameters have been described as impaired in AIDS patients. The patterns of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from AIDS-related complex (ARC) and AIDS patients in response to specific and nonspecific mitogens and their relationship to proliferative responses, interaction with exogenous interleukin 2 (IL-2), and absolute CD4 cell counts were studied. The PBMC were exposed to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen (Ag) and/or 10 units of IL-2. At selected times, culture supernatants were tested for IFN-gamma production by radioimmunoassay and at identical times proliferative responses were determined by [3H]thymidine uptake. IFN-gamma production in response to PHA or CMV Ag was inhibited significantly and appeared dependent on absolute CD4 cell counts. Proliferative responses were also similarly decreased. While IFN-gamma production to PHA was severely inhibited in PBMC only from patients with less than 100 CD4 cells/mm3, equivalent inhibition in response to CMV Ag was observed only in those with CD4 counts less than 600/mm3. IL-2 enhanced the PHA and CMV Ag-induced IFN production significantly by 2.8- and 5.3-fold respectively. Therefore, the administration of IL-2 might improve certain cell-mediated immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nokta
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Pollard
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D008934:Mitogens; D007371:Interferon-gamma