INHIBITION OF MARROW CFU-E COLONY FORMATION FROM HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INFECTED PATIENTS BY BETA-INTERFERON AND GAMMA-INTERFERON

Increased production of cytokines such as beta-interferon (IFN) and ga mma-IFN may contribute to the anemia frequently observed in patients w ith human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, The hypothesis that HIV infection might enhance the susceptibility of erythroid progenitor s to cytokine-mediated inhibition was evaluated by comparing the effec ts of beta- and gamma-IFN on in vitro colony formation by marrow eryth roid colony-forming units (CFU-E) from HIV patients, normal volunteers , and anemic non-HIV-infected individuals. CFU-E colony formation from HIV patients was not significantly different from controls, and the d egree of inhibition by IFN did not differ among patient subsets, HIV i nfection does not appear to impair baseline CFU-E colony formation, no r does it appear to enhance the susceptibility of CFU-E to suppression by cytokines. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.