T-cell function after interleukin-2 therapy in HIV-infected patients is correlated with serum cortisol concentrations

To examine the effects of interleukin (IL)-2 therapy on in-vitro lymphocyte responsiveness in HIV-infected patients and to correlate these data with serum cortisol concentrations. German prospective study. In adult patients (n = 32) treated with 9 x 10(6) IU/day interleukin-2, lymphocyte transformation tests (LTT), serum cortisol concentrations and CD4 T-cell counts were assessed before, during and after IL-2 therapy. A significant decrease in responses towards mitogens and recall antigens (P < 0.05) was observed on day 7 after starting a 4- to 5-day IL-2 therapy as compared to baseline. Serum cortisol levels increased (P < 0.0001) reaching a maximum on day 4, and were still elevated on day 7 (P < 0.005). CD4 T-cell counts significantly decreased with a minimum on day 2 before increasing 2.4-fold above baseline on day 7 (P < 0.005 each). A positive correlation (P < 0.05 each) was observed for changes in cortisol levels and in LTT mitogen and antigen reactions (both day 7 - 0), changes in cortisol levels (day 3 - 0) and CD4 cell counts on day 2, and corticotrophin releasing hormone test results and LTT antigen reactions on day 7. LTT responses, cortisol levels and CD4 T-cell counts returned to baseline on day 30. Serum cortisol concentrations are predictive of functional and numerical changes of T cells induced by IL-2 therapy.