Efficacy of low-dose subcutaneous interleukin-2 to treat advanced human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in persons with </=250/microL CD4 T cells and undetectable plasma virus load.
The immunologic efficacy of low-dose recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) administered subcutaneously (sc) once a day in combination with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was assessed in a pilot study in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. Twenty-five persons with </=250 CD4 cells/microL and plasma HIV-1 RNA levels </=500 copies/mL for >24 weeks were randomly assigned to receive sc rIL-2 (3 x 10(6) IU once a day) with their previous antiretroviral regimen (n=13) or to continue with the same treatment (n=12). The level of CD4 T cells was significantly higher in the IL-2 group at week 24 (105+/-65/microL; P<.05) but not in the control group (30+/-78/microL). Memory T cells initially contributed to the CD4 T cell increase at week 4 (P<.05). Naive T cell increases (99+/-58/microL) in the IL-2 group became statistically significant at week 24 compared with the control group (28+/-27/microL; P<.05). Subcutaneous rIL-2 once a day in combination with HAART was well tolerated and improved immunologic surface markers in patients with advanced HIV infection.
Arnó
A
A
Retrovirology Laboratory "irsiCaixa" Foundation, Immunology Department, HIV Unit, University Hospital "Germans Trias i Pujol," Barcelona, Spain. lruiz@ns.hugtip.scs.es
Ruiz
L
L
Juan
M
M
Jou
A
A
Balagué
M
M
Zayat
M K
MK
Marfil
S
S
Martínez-Picado
J
J
Martínez
M A
MA
Romeu
J
J
Pujol-Borrell
R
R
Lane
C
C
Clotet
B
B
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins