AEGiS-04CROI: Effect of IL2 therapy on T-cell responses to mitogens, recall and HIV-specific antigens.

4th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections

Washington, DC - January 22-26, 1997

Effect of IL2 therapy on T-cell responses to mitogens, recall and HIV-specific antigens.

Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 1997 Jan 22-26; 4th:71 (abstract no. 35)

Kelleher AD, Roggensack M, Emery S, Carr A, Cooper DA; Centre for Immunology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

Aim: To explore the effect of therapy with intermittent intravenous IL2 (CIV-IL2) and subcutaneous injections of polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugated IL-2 (PEG-IL2) given in 8 weekly cycles on lympho-proliferative responses to mitogens, recall antigens and HIV-epitopes.

Methods: 16 patients randomised to receive CIV-IL2 (n=5), PEG-IL2 (n=6) or antiviral therapy alone (n=4) were studied. Proliferation assays were performed at baseline, and weeks 16, 30 and 48. Proliferative responses to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), soluble anti-CD3, tetanus toxoid (TT), streptokinase/streptodornase (SK/SD) and 9 T-helper epitopes from Gag and Env were studied.

Results: Over the 48 weeks mean CD4+ counts rose by 302 and 201 cells/µL in recipients of CIV-IL2 and PEG-IL2 respectively. In those continuing antiviral therapy alone mean CD4+ cell counts fell by 97 cells/µL . No significant changes in HIV-RNA load were seen. At each time point proliferative responses to PHA, anti-CD3, TT and SK/SD were not different between treatment arms. Similarly, no differences in responses to HIV epitopes were found between the groups and no new responses to HIV-epitopes were detected in recipients of IL2. However, the rate of decline in proliferative response to TT was slower in both the IL2 therapy arms than in the antiviral therapy alone group.

Conclusions: IL2 therapy results in a significant increases in peripheral CD4+ counts. This increase is not associated with quantifiable improvements in or new lymphoproliferative responses to mitogens, or recall or HIV antigens. IL2 therapy may, however, preserve existing immune function.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Antigens, T-Lymphocytes, Mitogens, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Interleukin-2, Anti-HIV Agents, HIV, HIV Infections, Antigens, CD4, Antigens, CD3, Phytohemagglutinins, HIV Envelope Protein gp160, Tetanus Toxoid, Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors, interleukin-2, polyethylene glycol-modified, Human, AIDS

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Copyright © 1980, 1997 - Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health. Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health. Licensed through AIDSLINE, National Library of Medicine.