title: Studies on the production of IL-15 in HIV-infected/AIDS patients.
abstract: IL-15 is essential for the development and differentiation of NK cells. It selectively induces proliferation of CD8+ memory T lymphocytes. Despite its importance in both innate and adaptive immune responses, little is known about its production in HIV-infected persons. We report here that IL-15 levels are significantly decreased in the sera of HIV-infected/AIDS patients compared to control sera. We also show that PBMC from the infected patients are compromised in their ability to respond with enhanced production of IL-15 upon exposure to HSV-1. The decreased production of IL-15 occurs despite a comparable increase in IL-15 mRNA in the PBMC of HIV-infected and healthy HIV-seronegative donors when exposed to HSV-1. The HSV-stimulated patients' PBMC exhibited less NK activity compared to similarly treated normal PBMC. These results suggest that a compromised ability of PBMC from HIV-infected individuals to induce IL-15 production in response to a viral stimulus may be a reason of their compromised innate and adaptive immunity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology, Pediatric Research Center, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Montreal and Sainte-Justine Hospital, 3175 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3T 1C5. ahmada@justine.umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Rasheed
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Sardar T A
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Sindhu
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toma
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morisset
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D019409:Interleukin-15; D012333:RNA, Messenger