title: Effects of subcutaneous interleukin-2 therapy on phenotype and function of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in human immunodeficiency virus infected patients.
abstract: In the context of clinical therapy with recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2), we monitored immunological alteration in 10 human immunodeficiency virus type-I (HIV-1)-infected individuals, on stable antiretroviral therapy, who had a CD4+ cell count between 200 and 500 cells/mm3. Subcutaneous IL-2 was prescribed thrice weekly (at a dose of 3 x 10(6) IU) for 24 weeks and the patients were followed-up for 32 weeks. IL-2 treatment induced an increase in the CD4+ percentage (P<0.001) and CD4+ cell count (P<0.009). Furthermore. natural killer (NK) cell activity was increased (P<0.001) at week 8 of treatment, whereas lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity showed a transient, nonsignificant increase at week 8 and was reduced (P<0.001) at 32 weeks. However, the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity decreased against HIV antigens, and the proliferative response to Candida, IL-2 and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) declined during the first 8 weeks (P<0.05) and returned to baseline levels after 32 weeks. The HIV RNA level did not change during IL-2 therapy; however, after 8 weeks of follow-up a significant increase (P<0.001) in viral load was observed. In
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Righospitalet, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aladdin
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ullum
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Buhl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gerstoft
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skinhøj
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002455:Cell Division; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins