title: Uncoupled anti-HIV and immune-enhancing effects when combining IFN-alpha and IL-7.
abstract: Cytokine-based therapies have been examined for purging viral reservoirs and immunomodulation in HIV infection. However, single cytokines did not result in either HIV eradication or an efficient HIV-specific immune response. We hypothesize that cytokines with distinct biologic effects need to be combined for immunotherapy of HIV infection. In this study, we investigated the anti-HIV activity and immune-enhancing effects of the combination of IFN-alpha and IL-7. In human lymphocyte aggregate cultures infected ex vivo with the X4 HIV strain NL4-3, IFN-alpha/IL-7 potently inhibited HIV replication and preserved CD4(+) T cells, probably by up-regulating Bcl-2. IFN-alpha/IL-7 also strongly inhibited R5 HIV replication. Furthermore, in allogeneic MLRs, IFN-alpha/IL-7 increased T cell proliferation and IFN-gamma production. IFN-alpha alone also had strong anti-HIV activity, but neither preserved CD4(+) T cells nor increased T cell responses in MLRs. IL-7 alone maintained T cells and enhanced T cell activation in MLRs, but only moderately inhibited or increased HIV replication. Thus, coadministration of IFN-alpha/IL-7 combines the potent anti-HIV activity of IFN-alpha with the beneficial effects of IL-7 on T cell survival and function. We speculate that IFN-alpha will block viral replication, activate APCs, and up-regulate MHC molecules, thus allowing IL-7 to display its effects for generating an efficient immune response. In this scenario, the known reactivation of latent HIV by IL-7 may be advantageous.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. annette.audige@usv.ch
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Audigé
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schlaepfer
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joller
authors.forename: Roberto F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Speck
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015851:Interleukin-7