title: Effects of human immunodeficiency virus on the cellular immune response to Epstein-Barr virus in homosexual men: characterization of the cytotoxic response and lymphokine production.
abstract: We investigated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific T cell responses in homosexual men with, and at risk for, AIDS. We studied healthy laboratory workers, healthy homosexual men, and patients with AIDS-related complex or AIDS. The cytotoxic activity, absolute number of T4 lymphocytes, and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production decreased, whereas the relative number of Ia+ lymphocytes increased with the extent of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Cytotoxic activity correlated positively with the number of T4 lymphocytes (r = .56, P less than .001) and the amount of IL-2 produced (r = .47, P less than .01) but not with interferon production. Recombinant IL-2, but not gamma interferon, could restore cytotoxic T cell activity to control levels in patients with early HIV infection. EBV-specific serological studies paralleled the T lymphocyte investigations. The increased EBV activity observed in progressive HIV infection may be related to a diminution in the auto-reactive population of the T4 lymphocyte subset and may be amenable to IL-2 reconstitution.
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma