title: T-cell function after interleukin-2 therapy in HIV-infected patients is correlated with serum cortisol concentrations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of interleukin (IL)-2 therapy on in-vitro lymphocyte responsiveness in HIV-infected patients and to correlate these data with serum cortisol concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  German prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In adult patients (n = 32) treated with 9 x 10(6) IU/day interleukin-2, lymphocyte transformation tests (LTT), serum cortisol concentrations and CD4 T-cell counts were assessed before, during and after IL-2 therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease in responses towards mitogens and recall antigens (P < 0.05) was observed on day 7 after starting a 4- to 5-day IL-2 therapy as compared to baseline. Serum cortisol levels increased (P < 0.0001) reaching a maximum on day 4, and were still elevated on day 7 (P < 0.005). CD4 T-cell counts significantly decreased with a minimum on day 2 before increasing 2.4-fold above baseline on day 7 (P < 0.005 each). A positive correlation (P < 0.05 each) was observed for changes in cortisol levels and in LTT mitogen and antigen reactions (both day 7 - 0), changes in cortisol levels (day 3 - 0) and CD4 cell counts on day 2, and corticotrophin releasing hormone test results and LTT antigen reactions on day 7. LTT responses, cortisol levels and CD4 T-cell counts returned to baseline on day 30.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum cortisol concentrations are predictive of functional and numerical changes of T cells induced by IL-2 therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindemann
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Witzke
authors.forename: Toni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Winterhagen
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kreuzfelder
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roggendorf
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Philipp
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grosse-Wilde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D006854:Hydrocortisone