In view of its similarity to IL-2 in its effects on immune cells, we sought to determine whether IL-15 can induce the expansion of AIDS virus-specific pre-CTL to mature CTL.
Functionally, the IL-2R+ monocytes were capable of depleting IL-2 from culture supernatants, suggesting a mechanism for the reduced IL-2 levels commonly seen in AIDS patients.
Events in the human interleukin 2-dependent helper T-cell line WE17/10 are similar in several respects to the clinical progression in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
It was possible that T-cell depletion in acquired immune deficiency syndrome could be due to an impairment of TCGF synthesis and that adult T-cell leukemia could be due to unregulated production of TCGF.