Levels of interleukin-15 in plasma may predict a favorable outcome of structured treatment interruption in patients with chronic human immunodeficiency virus infection

Structured treatment interruption (STI) may help to alleviate the problems associated with long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. We analyzed the role that baseline levels of cytokines in plasma play as markers of a favorable outcome of STI. Two groups of patients were defined: STI responders and STI nonresponders. STI responders showed a higher baseline concentration of interleukin (IL)-15 in plasma than did STI nonresponders and showed lower levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha during STI. No differences were observed in levels of IL-2, IL-7, or interferon-alpha in plasma. Our data show that (1) levels of TNF-alpha in plasma correlate with HIV viremia and (2) monitoring baseline levels of IL-15 in plasma allows for the identification of a favorable outcome of STI.