Expression and significance of interleukin-15 and its receptor in HIV infection individuals

  Objective  To study expressions of interleukin-15 (IL-15), interleukin-15 receptor α (IL-15Rα) and a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain 17 (ADAM17) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HIV-infected individuals and to explore roles of the expressions in the progression of HIV infection.

  Methods  Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) was used to detect IL-15, IL-15Rα and ADAM17 mRNA in PBMC of 9 early HIV-infected individuals (infected within one year, EHI group), 30 chronic HIV-infected individuals (infected for more than one year, CHI group), and 9 healthy controls (NC group).

  Results  The expression of IL-15 mRNA in PBMC of CHI group was significantly higher than that in NC group (P < 0.01). The expression of IL-15Rα and ADAM17 mRNA in PBMC of EHI group and CHI group was significantly higher than those in NC group (both P < 0.05). The expression of IL-15, IL-15Rα and ADAM17 mRNA in PBMC of HIV-infected individuals were positively correlated with viral load (VL) (P < 0.05). IL-15 mRNA expression in PBMC was positively correlated with IL-15Rα mRNA expression in HIV-infected individuals (P < 0.001), and IL-15Rα mRNA expression was positively correlated with ADAM17 mRNA expression (P < 0.001).

  Conclusion  HIV-infection increases the expression of IL-15, IL-15Rα, and ADAM17 in PBMCs and their expressions are related to HIV viral load in HIV-infected individuals.