title: Proliferative and cytokine responses of human T lymphocytes isolated from human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients to the major surface glycoprotein of Pneumocystis carinii.
abstract: The current study examined the proliferative capacity and cytokine secretion pattern of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients in response to the major surface glycoprotein (MSG) of Pneumocystis carinii. PBMC from AIDS patients with <200 CD4 cells/mL had significantly less proliferative responses to MSG than did healthy controls. Cytokine analysis indicated that interferon-gamma secreted in response to MSG was also significantly less. There was no significant difference in interleukin-4 levels following incubation with MSG between any of the groups; however, all the HIV-infected persons had slightly elevated levels. When the CDC class C3 patients who had a previous episode of P. carinii pneumonia were compared with those who had not had a previous episode, there was a significant increase in the proliferative response to MSG and in interleukin-4 secretion. CDC class C3 patients who had a previous episode of P. carinii pneumonia showed a predominately Th2 response to MSG.
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio 45220, USA.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Theus
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sawhney
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Smulian
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Walzer
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C077556:GPA protein, Pneumocystis carinii sp.; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma