title: Interleukin-12 enhancement of antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation correlates with stage of human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: The effect of interleukin (IL)-12 on T lymphocyte function was assessed in 47 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons of different disease stages and 16 seronegative controls. Lymphoproliferative responses (LPR) were measured to various HIV and non-HIV antigens and mitogens using peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured with or without IL-12. Without exogenous IL-12, 96% of HIV-seropositive persons responded to mitogens, 77% to >=1 non-HIV antigen, and 11% to >=1 HIV antigen. Supplementation with IL-12 augmented LPR of HIV-seropositive persons to non-HIV antigens; however, the effect was greatest for those with higher CD4 cells (40% vs. 9% for those with >200 vs. <=200 CD4 cells/mm3). Addition of IL-12 also enhanced LPR to HIV antigens in 30% of subjects. This effect was most pronounced for those with>500 CD4 cells/mm3 (56% [P<. 05]). These findings suggest that impaired T lymphocyte recognition of foreign antigen, including HIV, can be reconstituted in part for selected HIV-seropositive persons.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Section, VAMC, Salem, VA 24153, USA. nagy-agren. stephanie@salem.va.gov
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Nagy-Agren
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Cooney
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007121:Immunocompetence; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015488:HIV Antigens; D008934:Mitogens; D018664:Interleukin-12