title: Interleukin 1 activity in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is a monocyte-derived mediator that participates in the regulation of various T-lymphocyte activities, among them IL-2 production. Since IL-2 deficiency is a central feature in the immunological profile of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the production of IL-1 from peripheral blood monocytes from male homosexuals with AIDS was investigated at the same time as the IL-1 responsiveness of monocyte-depleted mononuclear cells (MDC) from the same patients. The IL-1 was produced by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes and assayed by the capacity of monocyte supernatants to amplify the proliferation of phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated allogeneic MDC from healthy donors as well as murine thymocytes. The IL-1 responsiveness was measured by measuring the enhancing effect of an IL-1 standard on the proliferative response of patients' MDC. The IL-1 production was not reduced compared to the IL-1 production in a control group, but the IL-1 responsiveness of the patients' MDC was depressed. The results indicate that depressed IL-1 production is not one of the immunological disturbances in AIDS, but that the T-lymphocyte accessory properties of IL-1 are affected.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2