title: IL-7/IL-7 receptor system regulation following IL-2 immunotherapy in HIV-infected patients.
abstract: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-7 are the most intriguing molecules in immune-based HIV infection treatment. An in vitro IL-2/IL-7 cross-talk due to IL-2-driven IL-7 receptor-alpha-chain (IL-7R alpha) down-modulation, potentially blocking IL-7 signalling has been described. We investigated the in vivo IL-2 effect on IL-7/IL-7R system, measuring free IL-7, and IL-7R alpha CD4 and CD8 in 12 HIV-positive patients enrolled in a randomized IL-2 trial. Compared to HAART alone, IL-2 induced a parallel expansion in total and naive CD4, TRECs and IL-7 plasma levels, with no IL-7R alpha CD4 and IL-7R alpha CD8 changes (P>0.05), suggesting that in vivo IL-2 boosts IL-7 production without down-modulating IL-7R alpha, preserving IL-7-mediated T-lymphocyte homeostatic regulation. Our data confirm the pivotal role of IL-2 and IL-7 in the regulation of T-lymphocyte homeostasis in HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. giulia.marchetti@unimi.it
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meroni
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Molteni
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taskaris
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gazzola
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerici
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moroni
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franzetti
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gori
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015851:Interleukin-7; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7