Immunoregulatory circuits in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome and related complex. Production of and response to interleukins 1 and 2, NK function and its enhancement by interleukin-2 and kinetics of the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction.
The production of the T cell lymphokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) was found to impaired in all of seven male patients with AIDS or homosexuals with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (AIDS related complex, AIDS-RC) whom we studied. Conversely the T cell response to IL-2 was found unimpaired as was the production of the monocyte factor interleukin-1 (IL-1). The response of T cells to IL-1 was found markedly decreased in two of the four patients with AIDS and in two of the three patients with AIDS-RC. Five of six patients had flat curves in autologous mixed lymphocyte cultures with no significant proliferative response throughout 7 days. The exception was a Haitian heterosexual patient with AIDS. Natural killer cell function was decreased in three of four patients with AIDS and two of three patients with AIDS-RC but it augmented normally in the presence of IL-2 in four, including the two who had it normal basally. Responses to pokeweed mitogen were within normal limits in all seven patients despite decreased responses to concanavalin A and phytohaemagglutinin. These findings help pinpoint the defect in AIDS to the T4+ cell, and perhaps even to one of its subpopulations, and suggest a role for IL-2 in the treatment of AIDS.
Alcocer-Varela
J
J
Alarcon-Segovia
D
D
Abud-Mendoza
C
C
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D008938:Mitosis; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003208:Concanavalin A