FILGRASTIM RESTORES INTERLEUKIN-2 PRODUCTION IN BLOOD FROM PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION

Filgrastim induces lymphocytosis, including all T cell subsets, and in creased ex vivo interleukin (IL)-2 release as well as lymphocyte proli feration, Since Filgrastim is increasingly used in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the effect of Filgrastim on e x vivo cytokine production was determined. Whole blood from 8 healthy volunteers, 5 high-risk volunteers, and 31 HIV-infected outpatients wa s assayed for cytokine production in response to endotoxin (LPS) or st aphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in the presence or absence of 100 ng/ mL Filgrastim. LPS-inducible blood cytokine release of HIV-infected pa tients was not different from that of normal or high-risk volunteers. The suppressive effect of Filgrastim on LPS-inducible blood tumor necr osis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma formation in normal volunteers was not found in HIV-infected patients. Patients with advanced HIV inf ection showed reduced IL-2 and IL-4 release in the presence of SEE. In the presence of Filgrastim, IL-2 production was partially restored.