Increased interleukin-2 receptor expression after mitogen stimulation on CD4- and CD8-positive lymphocytes and decreased interleukin-2 production in HTLV-III antibody-positive symptomatic individuals.
We investigated the expression of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor on phytohaemagglutin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes from homosexual men with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy, the prodrome of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The subjects were positive for antibody against human T-cell lymphotropic virus III. Using two-colour fluorescence flow cytometry, IL-2 receptor expression was determined on both the CD4- and CD8-positive lymphocyte subpopulations. After 48 hr of stimulation, expression of the IL-2 receptor on both T-cell subsets was significantly increased in lymphadenopathy patients as compared to values in heterosexual age-matched controls; this difference was less after 72 hr of stimulation. Results from two AIDS patients were within the normal range. IL-2 production was significantly reduced in both lymphadenopathy and AIDS patients as compared to values in heterosexual controls. We conclude that a defect in IL-2 production is associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus III infection, but that the expression of the IL-2 receptor on T cells is not greatly affected.
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2