title: Enhanced survival and potent expansion of the natural killer cell population of HIV-infected individuals by exogenous interleukin-15.
abstract: The CD56+CD16+ natural killer (NK) cell population plays a crucial role in eliminating virus-infected cells and is diminished in HIV-infected individuals. This study examined the effects of exogenous interleukin (IL)-15 on proliferation and survival of CD56+ and CD16+ cells of HIV-infected individuals. When used at equivalent concentrations in vitro, IL-15 was more potent than IL-2 as a growth factor for CD56+ cells, as well as for CD16+ cells and also CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Analysis of cell survival in etoposide-treated cultures indicated that IL-15 was also more potent than IL-2 as a survival factor for CD56+ cells by virtue of its greater ability to up-regulate bcl-2 expression. Although IL-15-induced proliferation of CD56+ cells was accompanied by increased apoptosis, IL-15 was more effective than IL-2 in increasing the representation of viable CD56+ cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell population, but less effective in increasing T cell representation. The immunotherapeutic potential of IL-15 appears superior to IL-2 in regard to expanding NK cell populations in HIV-infected individuals, but needs to be weighed against poorer increases in T cell populations.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Oncologie Virale and URA CNRS 1930, Département SIDA et Rétrovirus, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naora
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gougeon
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D002455:Cell Division; D002470:Cell Survival; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D019409:Interleukin-15; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D000099192:CD69 Antigens