gp41 Envelope Protein of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Induces Interleukin (IL)-10 in Monocytes, but Not in B, T, or NK Cells, Leading to Reduced IL-2 and Interferon-γ Production

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 177; no. 4; pp. 905 - 913
• Main Authors: Barcova, Maria, Kacani, Laco, Speth, Cornelia, Dierich, Manfred P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01-04-1998; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: AIDS/HIV; Antibodies, Blocking - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Cells, Cultured; Enterotoxins - immunology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HIV Envelope Protein gp41 - genetics; HIV Envelope Protein gp41 - immunology; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV-1 - immunology; Humans; Interferon-gamma - immunology; Interferon-gamma - metabolism; Interleukin-10 - immunology; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; Interleukin-2 - immunology; Interleukin-2 - metabolism; Interleukin-4 - immunology; Interleukin-4 - metabolism; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - metabolism; Kinetics; Maltose-Binding Proteins; Microbiology; Monocytes - immunology; Monocytes - metabolism; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - immunology; Replicative cycle, interference, host-virus relations, pathogenicity, miscellaneous strains; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - immunology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Virology; Human; Monocyte; HIV-1 virus; Immunomodulation; Interleukin; Cytokine; Retroviridae; Biosynthesis; Lentivirus; Host virus relation; In vitro; Biological activity; Virus; Human immunodeficiency virus; Virus envelope; Lymphocyte; Gamma interferon
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1086/515230

The effect of extracellular domain of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) transmembrane glycoprotein gp41 on interleukin (IL)-10, IL-2, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-4, and tumor necrosis factora production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was assessed by ELISA. Rapid gp41-induced increase of IL-10 production was detected in resting PBMC and isolated monocytes but not in B, T, or NK cells. Furthermore, gp41 also enhanced IL-10 production in staphylococcal enterotoxin B-stimulated PBMC, while synthesis of IL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-4 in these cells was downmodulated. Kinetic studies revealed that increased IL-10 production preceded reduction of IL-2, indicating the possible IL-10 regulatory role in the gp41-induced down-modulation of this cytokine. Anti-IL-10 antibody reversed almost completely the gp41 inhibitory effect on IL-2 production. In this study, HIV-1 gp41 was a potent modulator of cytokine production by PBMC, in particular by increasing IL-10 secretion from normal monocytes/macrophages and consequently down-regulating IL-2 and IFN-γ.