title: Selective decrease in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-induced alpha interferon production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells during HIV-1 infection.
abstract: We previously reported that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and Sendai virus induce higher levels of alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) in blood dendritic cells than in monocytes of healthy donors. In the present study, the levels of IFN-alpha induced by T-cell tropic (IIIb and RF) and monocytotropic (BaL) strains of HIV-1 and by HSV were significantly decreased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from subjects with asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV-1 infection. In contrast, Sendai virus, a paramyxovirus that induces proportionally more IFN-alpha in monocytes and B cells than do either HIV-1 or HSV, stimulated normal levels of IFN-alpha in PBMCs from the HIV-1-infected men. The IFN-alpha produced by PBMCs from the HIV-1-seropositive subjects was partially acid labile, whereas the IFN-alpha produced by PBMCs from the HIV-1-seronegative donors was acid stable. We hypothesize that there is a selective defect in IFN-alpha production by peripheral blood dendritic cells, whereas the host retains the IFN-alpha-producing capacity of monocytes and B lymphocytes. The loss of IFN-alpha production in response to HIV-1, herpesviruses, and possibly other pathogens could contribute to the progression of HIV-1 infection and to the development of AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferbas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Navratil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Logar
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rinaldo
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D010222:Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human; D018139:Simplexvirus; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha