Capacity to produce interleukin 2 is impaired in haemophilia in the absence and presence of HIV 1 infection

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Abstract
Summary. Capacity to produce interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) was measured in haemophiliacs from a well‐defined treated cohort. Patients were selected on the basis of HIV‐1 antibody status, mean annual dose of clotting factor and liver disease severity. T‐cell subsets and peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation to Mycobacterium tuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD) were also measured. Haemophiliacs had reduced IL‐2 production, independent of HIV‐1 antibody status, mean annual dose of clotting factor concentrate used and liver disease severity. In HIV‐1 antibody positive patients reduced levels correlated with PPD proliferative responses (r=0.6, P=0.04) and CD8+ve (r=05, P=0.05) but not CD4 + ve cell numbers (r= 0.3, P=0.2). No such correlations were seen in HIV‐1 antibody negative patients. Reduced IL‐2 production in HIV‐1 antibody negative haemophiliacs was due to a qualitative defect. In HTV‐1 positive patients a qualitative defect in T lymphocytes that selectively proliferate in response to PPD was observed. CD4 + ve cell numbers were reduced in HIV‐1 positive patients.