Effect of Interleukin (IL)–15 Priming on IL?12 and Interferon?? Production by Pathogen?Stimulated Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Seropositive and –Seronegative Donors

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Abstract
Hypoproduction of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-12 and interferon (IFN)-γ is thought to contribute to the impaired immunity seen in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. The effects of priming with IL-15 on the production of IL-12 and IFN-γ by stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HIV-seronegative and -seropositive donors were studied. Stimuli included 3 pathogens that commonly infect HIV-positive persons— Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis—plus Staphylococcus aureus. Following IL-15 priming of HIV-negative PBMC, pathogen-stimulated IL-12 and IFN-γ production increased 5–58-fold. However, for the HIV-positive PBMC, IL-15 priming did not lead to significant increases in pathogen-stimulated IL-12 production and caused only modest increases in IFN-γ production. These data suggest that IL-15 alone may be insufficient to correct the defect in IL-12 and IFN-γ production in HIV-positive persons.

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