Role of nitric oxide in the promoting effect of HIV type 1 infection and of gp120 envelope glycoprotein on interleukin 4-induced IgE production by normal human mononuclear cells.

Increased levels of serum IgE have been described in HIV-1 infection; however, mechanisms implicated in this immunoglobulin production remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that in vitro infection of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM Cs) by HIV-1 monocytotropic (Ba-L) or lymphocytotropic (LAI) strains promotes IL-4-induced IgE production, indicating that the HIV-1 infectious process may participate in the IgE production observed in vivo. The effect of membrane glycoproteins (gp160, gp120, and gp41) was also evaluated. It was found that gp120 specifically potentiates in a dose-dependent manner IL-4-induced IgE production and does not affect IL-4-induced IgG, IgA, or IgM production. In these experiments, gp160 was also found to upregulate IL-4-induced IgE production, whereas gp41 was ineffective. This effect of gp120, gp160, and HIV-1 infection on IgE synthesis was not observed in the absence of IL-4. In the presence of IL-4, the inducing effect of gp120 appeared to be indirect because g...