Interferon production in patients infected with HIV-1

The production of interferon (IFN) from cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after virus or mitogen stimulation was evaluated in 141 patients positive for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). IFN-alpha production by PBMC of patients at Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stage II (Walter Reed [WR] 1) was comparable to that produced by PBMC of healthy controls. However, cells of patients at early CDC stage III (WR 2) produced significantly lower titers of IFN-alpha (P less than .001), and IFN-alpha was almost absent at CDC stage IV (WR 6) (P less than .001). IFN-gamma production was altered in patients at late CDC stage III (WR 4-5) and CDC IV (WR 6). A strong correlation between the disappearance of antibodies to core proteins and low IFN-alpha level was observed. IFN-alpha levels were significantly diminished in patients positive for HIV antigen. Reduced IFN-alpha production paralleled the HIV-1-related depletion of CD4+ lymphocytes and might serve as an additional parameter in defining the stage of HIV-1 infection.