Immunological basis for IgE hyper-production in enfuvirtide-treated HIV- positive patients

J Clin Immunol. 2006 Mar;26(2):168-76. doi: 10.1007/s10875-006-9005-7. Epub 2006 Apr 7.

Abstract

We previously reported that enfuvirtide (ENF) treatment is accompanied by a selective increase of serum IgE. We asked whether ENF had intrinsic capability to direct B-lymphocytes to switch to IgE and/or if it could drive CD4 T cells to a Th2 phenotype. ENF was added in vitro: (a) to B-lymphocytes stimulated with IgE-switch inducing stimuli; (b) to peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Total IgE production by B cells and IL4 and IFN-gamma production by CD4 T lymphocytes were evaluated, respectively. ENF had no measurable effect on the IgE production by B-lymphocytes. In contrast, it sharply increased the IL4 to IFN-gamma (a correlate of the Th2 phenotype) when added in vitro to T cells from healthy donors or from single ENF-treated patients. The hyper-IgE production in ENF-treated patients is associated with the in vitro induction of a type-2 phenotype in CD4 T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Enfuvirtide
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / therapeutic use*
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin E / biosynthesis*
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Peptide Fragments / therapeutic use*
  • Th2 Cells / drug effects
  • Th2 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Enfuvirtide
  • Immunoglobulin E