DECREASE IN CYTOKINE PRODUCTION BY HIV-INFECTED MACROPHAGES IN RESPONSE TO LPS-MEDIATED ACTIVATION

The capacity of human monocytes/macrophages (M/M) infected with a human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) isolate to produce several immunomodulating cytokines including interleukin-1-alpha (IL-1-alpha), IL-1-beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6, IL-8, and macrophage chemoattractant and activating factor (MCAF) was examined. Although HIV infection itself induced significant increases in the level of mRNAs for IL-1-beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8, the levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mRNAs for IL-1-alpha, IL-1-beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, and MCAF were decreased over those of uninfected LPS-stimulated cells. In addition, HIV-infected M/M produced lower amounts of IL-8 protein, as measured by radioimmunoassay over an 18-day culture period. These results suggest that HIV infection generally suppresses the LPS-inducible cytokine production in human M/M. The impact of the role of these cytokines in the immunity and pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection is discussed.