Activation, survival and apoptosis of CD45RO+and CD45RO−T cells of human immunodeficiency virus‐infected individuals: effects of interleukin‐15 and comparison with interleukin‐2

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Abstract
HIV infection is associated with increased representation of T cells bearing an activated, memory (CD45RO+) phenotype. Although administration of antiretroviral agents and interleukin-2 (IL-2) augment depleted CD4+ T-cell numbers, such therapies have been preferentially beneficial for CD45RO+ T cells. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) exhibits many biological activities in common with IL-2, including promoting T-cell survival and proliferation. The present study found that these two cytokines differed in their ability to induce proliferation, enhance survival, and control apoptosis of CD45RO+ and CD45RO− T-cell populations of human immunodeficiency- (HIV) infected individuals. When used at equivalent concentrations in vitro, IL-15 was more potent than IL-2 in activating and stimulating proliferation of CD4+CD45RO+, CD8+CD45RO+ and CD8+CD45RO− cells, but failed to be more effective than IL-2 in reducing apoptosis. Poor activation of CD4+CD45RO− cells by IL-15 and to IL-2 appeared to be attributable to low expression of the β receptor chain utilized by both cytokines. However, IL-15 was more effective than IL-2 in enhancing survival of the CD4+CD45RO− population, suggesting a greater protective effect of IL-15 for naive CD4+ T cells, which are preferentially lost in HIV-infected individuals.

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