RECOMBINANT GP120 INDUCES IL-10 IN RESTING PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS - CORRELATION WITH THE INDUCTION OF OTHER CYTOKINES

Immunological abnormalities present in HIV-1-infected individuals ofte n reflect an imbalance of cytokine production. The HIV-1 gp120 has the ability to induce a number of cytokines, and to enhance immunoglobuli n release by normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vitro , in the absence of IL-2 production and of lymphoproliferation. This s tudy provides evidence that gp 120 is a potent IL- 10 inducer in norma l PBMC cultures. The pattern of other cytokines induced by gp120 inclu des interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and IFN-gamma, tumour necrosis factor -alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6, IL-1 alpha and -beta, and not IL-2 and IL-4. These findings further define the pattern of cytokine release induced by gp120 on human resting PBMC. Furthermore, the present findings rou ghly parallel those observed both in the sera of patients and in the m ononuclear cells from HIV+ individuals early after infection, suggesti ng that gp120 could be a good candidate as one of the agents responsib le for cytokine dysregulation observed in HIV-1-infected individuals.