Circulating Interferon Gamma in AIDS Patients Treated with Interleukin-2

Abstract
To the Editor: In response to specific microbial antigens, T cells from patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and opportunistic infections fail to secrete interferon gamma,1 a lymphokine that enhances mononuclear phagocyte antimicrobial activity.2 This is not surprising, since antigen-triggered production of interferon gamma is largely dependent on interleukin-2,3 T cells in patients with AIDS have grossly defective interleukin-2 secretion,4 , 5 and functionally intact T4+ cells are required for antigen-stimulated interleukin-2 and interferon gamma generation.3 4 5 In vitro, interleukin-2 directly stimulates normal T cells, but not those from patients with AIDS, to secrete interferon gamma4; however, we now report that . . .