IL-4 and IL-13 have overlapping but distinct effects on HIV production in monocytes

In HIV-1-infected monocytes and monocytoid cell lines, viral expression can be observed as high-level production, restricted (chronic low-level) expression, and latency (no viral expression). Interleukin-13 (IL-13) and IL-4, which have remarkedly similar deactivating effects on inflammatory monocyte functions, were studied for their regulation of HIV expression in monocytes. Pretreatment of peripheral monocytes for 48-72 h with IL-13 markedly decreased acute HIV infection, whereas IL-4 increased it. Similar effects were seen when the U1 and R-THP-1 monocytoid cell lines with restricted HIV expression were treated with these cytokines. However, when these continuously producing cell lines were chronically treated with cytokines, IL-13 increased HIV production. Neither IL-4 nor IL-13 stimulated HIV expression in latently infected cells. In chronically infected cells, several cytokines reduced viral mRNA. Both IL-4 and IL-13 increased monocyte aggregate formation, but only IL-4 ultimately stimulated cytolysis of HIV-infected monocytes as well as increased apoptosis of U1. In the presence of tumor necrosis factor alpha or IL-6, which upregulate HIV expression, IL-13 could no longer suppress HIV expression. These results indicate that IL-4 and IL-13, although closely related in modulating monocyte function, can have divergent effects on HIV expression in monocytes. Collectively, these data suggest that there exists a complex cytokine tissue environment with positive regulators of HIV expression able to override negative regulators.