Interleukin-15 enhances HIV-1-driven polyclonal B-cell response in vitro.
Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a recently described cytokine, produced by monocytes/macrophages, with biological activities similar to IL-2. Since IL-15 was shown to stimulate human B-cell proliferation and immunoglobulin secretion, we investigated its effect on human B-cells stimulated with heat-inactivated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (iHIV-1) in vitro. We observed a dose-dependent elevation of [3H]-thymidine incorporation and immunoglobulin production by B-cells incubated in the presence of iHIV-1. Moreover, IL-15 stimulated HIV-1-driven B-cell proliferation similarly to IL-2. As to immunoglobulin secretion, IL-15 was able to potentiate the stimulatory effect of IL-10. The highest amounts of iHIV caused a decrease in B-cell proliferation and immunoglobulin secretion to baseline levels, even in the presence of cytokines. These findings indicate that during the late stages of AIDS, when monocytes/macrophages become the major site of viral production, IL-15, in concert with other monocyte-derived cytokines, may promote polyclonal B-cell activation and hypergammaglobulinaemia, which are frequently associated with HIV infection.
Institut für Hygiene, Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Osterreich. Laco.Kacani@uibk.ac.at
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D000293:Adolescent; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000494:pharmacology; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019410:Interleukin-16 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D019409:Interleukin-15; D019410:Interleukin-16; D016753:Interleukin-10