Comparison of interleukin 2 and gamma-interferon production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to cytomegalovirus after marrow transplantation.
Forty-five patients were prospectively studied during the first 100 days after allogeneic marrow transplant to determine the relationship between cytomegalovirus-specific gamma-interferon and interleukin 2 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells and CMV infection. IL-2 production was significantly lower than normal throughout the study period (P = 0.0001). In contrast, mitogen-induced gamma-interferon production was in the normal range by days 41-60 while CMV antigen induced gamma-interferon production by PBMC was normal by 81-100 days after transplant. Antibody- and complement-depletion studies showed that T4 helper cells were capable of gamma-interferon production in response to CMV antigen despite deficient IL-2 production. Neither gamma-interferon nor IL-2 production distinguished CMV-infected from uninfected patients. However, CMV-infected patients had significantly more T8 cytotoxic/suppressor cells than did uninfected patients by 81-100 days after transplant (P = 0.001). In vitro addition of IL-2 significantly increased gamma-interferon production by PBMC from patients with reduced production, suggesting that decreased gamma-interferon production may be related to deficient IL-2 production. Deficiencies in both CMV-specific IL-2 and gamma-interferon production may contribute to the high frequency and severity of CMV infection after marrow transplantation.
Bowden
R A
RA
Program in Infectious Diseases, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98104.
Dobbs
S
S
Amos
D
D
Meyers
J D
JD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002648:Child; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma