Abstract
The production of interferon (IFN) from cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after virus or mitogen stimulation was evaluated in 141 patients positive for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). IFN-alpha production by PBMC of patients at Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stage II (Walter Reed [WR] 1) was comparable to that produced by PBMC of healthy controls. However, cells of patients at early CDC stage III (WR 2) produced significantly lower titers of IFN-alpha (P less than .001), and IFN-alpha was almost absent at CDC stage IV (WR 6) (P less than .001). IFN-gamma production was altered in patients at late CDC stage III (WR 4-5) and CDC IV (WR 6). A strong correlation between the disappearance of antibodies to core proteins and low IFN-alpha level was observed. IFN-alpha levels were significantly diminished in patients positive for HIV antigen. Reduced IFN-alpha production paralleled the HIV-1-related depletion of CD4+ lymphocytes and might serve as an additional parameter in defining the stage of HIV-1 infection.
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