title: In vitro HIV-specific CTL activity from HIV-seropositive individuals is augmented by interleukin-12 (IL-12).
abstract: IL-12 production is reduced in HIV infection, and recombinant human IL-12 (rhIL-12) augments in vitro HIV-specific proliferative responses in PBMC from HIV-seropositive individuals. To determine whether rhIL12 could also augment HIV-specific CTL responses we studied 41 HIV-seropositive individuals. Recombinant hIL-12 increased the detectable in vitro HIV-specific CD8 CTL activity of PBMC taken from HIV-seropositive individuals with CD4 counts >500 cells/microl and from some individuals with lower CD4 counts. IL-12 increased cell recovery in cultures of PBMC from HIV-seropositive individuals with CD4 counts >500 cells/microl and also increased the precursor CTL frequency. However, the increase in HIV-specific CTL activity was not due to IL-2 or IFN-gamma production or an increase in the number of cells with surface markers characteristic of CTL effector cells. This study demonstrates that rhIL-12 augments in vitro HIV-specific CTL activity and provides evidence to justify further investigation within clinical trials of this cytokine in HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia. jyou5571@mail.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ffrench
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Clarkson
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Tideman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Packham
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fulcher
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Benson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018664:Interleukin-12