IL-7/IL-7 receptor system regulation following IL-2 immunotherapy in HIV-infected patients

Antivir Ther. 2004 Jun;9(3):447-52.

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.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • HIV Seropositivity / blood
  • HIV Seropositivity / drug therapy
  • HIV Seropositivity / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Interleukin-2 / therapeutic use*
  • Interleukin-7 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-7 / blood*
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7 / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7 / blood*

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Interleukin-2
  • Interleukin-7
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7