HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 triggers a Th2 response in mice that shifts to Th1 in the presence of human growth hormone.
Immunization of mice with HIV-1-gp120 results in predominant activation of the Th2 lymphocyte subset, leading to enhanced IL-4 production. Administration of human growth hormone at the time of gp120 immunization provokes a change in the cytokine production pattern, with lower IL-4 and higher gamma-IFN and IL-2 synthesis levels, indicating a preferential switch in stimulation from Th2 to Th1 cells. A growth hormone would thus be of great use for pharmacological intervention in those cases in which an infectious microorganism evades immune defenses by provoking a Th2 response. In addition, the ability of growth hormone to induce a Th1-type response upon vaccination with an HIV-antigen should be examined in the development of new therapeutic strategies or in the design of novel vaccines against HIV infection.
Mellado
M
M
Department of Immunology and Oncology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain.
Llorente
M
M
Rodríguez-Frade
J M
JM
Lucas
P
P
Martínez
C
C
del Real
G
G
D000818:Animals; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007114:Immunization; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D018417:Th1 Cells; D018418:Th2 Cells
D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D015847:Interleukin-4