Spontaneous Production of Interleukin-6 by Alveolar Macrophages from Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Patients

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Abstract
To test the hypothesis that the lung represents a source of interleukin (IL)-6 in human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1)-positive subjects,alveolar macrophages (AM)obtained from the bronchoalveolar lavage (HAL) fluid of 10 HIV-1-positive patients were investigated for the expression of IL-6 mRNA and the ability to release IL-6. The presence of IL-6 in BAL fluid was also investigated. It has been demonstrated that freshly recovered AM from HIV-1-positive patients showa strong IL-6 mRNA signal. The message for IL-6 increases following culture with LPS. Supernatants obtained from AM cultured in medium alone contain high amounts of IL-6; the values are three to four times higher following culture with LPS. IL-6 has also been detected in the BAL fluid from 5 of 8 HIV-I-positive patients. Results of immunoblotting analysis were consistent with those given above. These findings suggest that the lung represents a source of IL-6 production in HIV-1-infected subjects with lung disorders.

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