TY - JOUR AU - Khatri, V P AU - Fehniger, T A AU - Baiocchi, R A AU - Yu, F AU - Shah, M H AU - Schiller, D S AU - Gould, M AU - Gazzinelli, R T AU - Bernstein, Z P AU - Caligiuri, M A T1 - Ultra low dose interleukin-2 therapy promotes a type 1 cytokine profile in vivo in patients with AIDS and AIDS-associated malignancies. PY - 1998/03/15/ AB - This study was undertaken to determine if prolonged daily subcutaneous administration of ultra low dose IL-2 could influence the constitutive endogenous production of a type 1 (IFN-gamma) cytokine in patients with AIDS or AIDS-associated malignancies. Using a quantitative reverse transcription PCR assay, we demonstrate that daily administration of one type 1 cytokine, IL-2, for 3 mo increases significantly the constitutive endogenous gene expression of another type 1 cytokine, IFN-gamma, in vivo. The predominant source of IFN-gamma appears to be IL-2-expanded natural killer cells and CD8(+) T cells. Moreover, PBMC obtained from these patients during IL-2 therapy showed normalization of a profound deficit in IFN-gamma protein production after stimulation with extracts from infectious agents in vitro. Our data suggest that prolonged exogenous administration of a type 1 cytokine in a nontoxic fashion to patients with AIDS and AIDS-associated malignancies can enhance significantly the endogenous type 1 cytokine profile in vivo. Consequently, ultra low dose IL-2 therapy has the potential to improve the immunodeficient hosts' immune response to infectious pathogens that require IFN-gamma for clearance. JF - The Journal of Clinical Investigation JA - J Clin Invest SN - 0021-9738 DO - 10.1172/JCI2038 VL - 101 IS - 6 UR - https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI2038 SP - 1373 EP - 1378 PB - The American Society for Clinical Investigation ER -