title: Levels of interleukin-15 in plasma may predict a favorable outcome of structured treatment interruption in patients with chronic human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: Structured treatment interruption (STI) may help to alleviate the problems associated with long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. We analyzed the role that baseline levels of cytokines in plasma play as markers of a favorable outcome of STI. Two groups of patients were defined: STI responders and STI nonresponders. STI responders showed a higher baseline concentration of interleukin (IL)-15 in plasma than did STI nonresponders and showed lower levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha during STI. No differences were observed in levels of IL-2, IL-7, or interferon-alpha in plasma. Our data show that (1) levels of TNF-alpha in plasma correlate with HIV viremia and (2) monitoring baseline levels of IL-15 in plasma allows for the identification of a favorable outcome of STI.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani Istituto Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy. amicosante@inmi.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amicosante
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Poccia
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gioia
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montesano
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Topino
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Narciso
authors.forename: Leopoldo P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Pucillo
authors.forename: Gianpiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Offizi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014766:Viremia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D019409:Interleukin-15; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha