title: Interleukin-15 production by monocyte-derived dendritic cells and T cell proliferation in HIV-infected patients with discordant response to highly active antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: A discordant response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) occurs when CD4 T cell counts are stable or increased over time despite persistently detectable HIV-RNA levels. In order to identify immunological factors affecting discordant treatment responses, a total of 27 HIV-infected patients were studied: (a) 10 naive patients (mean CD4+ = 101.5 cells/microl; mean HIV-RNA = 4.8 log10 copies/ml); (b) seven responder patients (mean CD4+ = 908.9 cells/microl); and (c) 10 discordant patients (mean CD4+ = 396.1 cells/microl; mean HIV-RNA = 5.4 log10 copies/ml). Five healthy blood donors were included as HIV-seronegative controls. The following parameters were evaluated: interleukin (IL)-15 production by monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDC) after stimulation with lypopolysaccaride (LPS) and Candida albicans; recall and HIV-1-specific antigen lymphocyte proliferation (LP). Increased levels of IL-15 production by MDDC after stimulation with LPS and C. albicans were found both in discordant patients and responder patients. Conversely, a strong reduction of IL-15 levels was observed in naive patients. Discordant patients developed positive LP responses to C. albicans and HIV-1 p24. LP in response to C. albicans and HIV-1 p24 was also positive in responder patients. Decreased LP response was found in naive patients. In conclusion, HIV-infected patients with discordant viro-immunological responses to HAART present increased levels of IL-15 production by MDDC and enhanced recall and HIV-1-specific antigen LP responses, suggesting an improvement in indices of immune function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. gabriella.dettorre@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: d'Ettorre
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forcina
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreotti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sarmati
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palmisano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreoni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mastroianni
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vullo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015488:HIV Antigens; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D019409:Interleukin-15; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012367:RNA, Viral