thymosin and Opportunistic-Infections

A monoclonal antibody (anti-Tac) that appears to bind the receptor for interleukin-2 (IL-2) was used to quantitate lymphocytes that express IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) in response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation. 62 +/- 4% of the cells expressed IL-2R in response to PHA in twelve normal subjects compared to 22 +/- 4% in fourteen patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) (P less than 0.001) and 50 +/- 6% in six patients with AIDS-related complex (P less than 0.1). There was no effect on IL-2R expression, when lymphocytes from seven controls were incubated with IL-2 (20 mu/ml) or thymosin fraction V (10 mu/ml) for 72 h. However, when the lymphocytes from seven patients with AIDS were incubated with IL-2, the IL-2R rose from 18 +/- 3% to 31 +/- 3% (P less than 0.005) and with a fraction V to 29 +/- 3% (P less than 0.001). In addition, IL-2 augmented the PHA-induced proliferative responses in patients with AIDS-related complex and AIDS and normal controls, whereas thymosin fraction V had no significant effect. Thymosin fraction V also enhanced the IL-2 production of PHA-stimulated mononuclear cells obtained from six patients with AIDS and six normal controls. These results suggest that both IL-2 and thymosin fraction V can modulate in vitro T-cell function in patients with AIDS.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adjuvants, Immunologic; AIDS-Related Complex; Humans; Interleukin-2; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes; Opportunistic Infections; Phytohemagglutinins; Receptors, Immunologic; Receptors, Interleukin-2; Thymosin