title: Cytokine interactions in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals: roles of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, and IL-15.
abstract: Cytokines have been shown to be powerful regulators of the immune response. In this study, we analyze the effect that the newly recognized cytokine interleukin (IL)-15 has on proliferation and cytokine induction using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and purified CD4+ T cells from patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who are at various stages in their disease. We observed that IL-15 enhances the proliferative response in a dose-dependent manner from PBMCs of HIV-infected individuals when stimulated by polyclonal mitogen, tetanus toxoid, or HIV-specific antigen. The effects of exogenous IL-15 are substantially diminished by adding a neutralizing antibody to the beta chain of the IL-2 receptor. Moreover, the ability of IL-15 to increase proliferation is enhanced by the presence of endogenous IL-2 produced in the cultures. The effect that exogenous IL-15 had on IL-2, IL-4, and interferon (IFN)-gamma induction from PBMC's or CD4+ T cells in response to mitogen or tetanus toxoid was also examined. This was compared to the effect that exogenous IL-2 and IL-12 had under the same conditions. Addition of IL-2 or IL-15 to short-term in vitro cultures of either PBMCs or CD4+ T cells had little effect on IL-2, IL-4, or IFN-gamma production. By contrast, IL-12 caused substantial enhancement of both IL-2 and IFN-gamma production from these cultures. The role that endogenous cytokines have on IFN-gamma induction was also studied. Addition of a neutralizing antibody to the alpha chain of the IL-2 receptor or IL-12 to antigen stimulated cultures caused a striking decrease in IFN-gamma production. Neutralization of endogenous IL-15 also resulted in diminished IFN-gamma production from cultures stimulated with mitogen. IL-4 and IFN-gamma protein production by PBMCs and CD4+ T cells stimulated with mitogen was assessed to see if we could detect a specific bias of cytokine production. Small amounts of IL-4 were detected from CD4+ T cells but not PBMCs from most individuals tested. IFN-gamma and IL-2, however, were also produced from these same cultures. These results further elucidate the mechanism of cytokine regulation in HIV-infected individuals, and they provide evidence that IL-15 may be a useful immune modulator.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Seder
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Grabstein
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Berzofsky
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: McDyer
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000494:pharmacology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000494:pharmacology; D019409:Interleukin-15; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015488:HIV Antigens; D019409:Interleukin-15; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D008934:Mitogens; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma