Pilot study of the immunologic effects of recombinant human growth hormone and recombinant insulin-like growth factor in HIV-infected patients

Abstract

To study the immunologic effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), recombinant human insulin-like growth factor type 1 (rhIGF-1), or the combination, in patients with moderately advanced HIV infection.

Randomized but not blinded trial.

Government medical research center.

Twenty-four HIV-infected patients with CD4 cell counts of 100–400 × 106/l who were receiving nucleoside antiretroviral therapy.

Either rhGH, rhIGF-1, or the combination was administered subcutaneously for 12 weeks.

Immunologic parameters, including T-cell subsets and assays of in vitro interleukin (IL)-2 production in response to antigens and mitogens, and safety profile.

Plasma IGF-1 levels were low or low-normal prior to treatment and increased with all three therapies. There were no significant changes in CD4 cell counts, RA/RO CD4 cell subsets, natural killer cell function, immunoglobulin levels, or in vitro IL-2 production in response to mitogen or alloantigens. However, there was an upward trend (and for p18IIIB a statistically significant increase) in the in vitro IL-2 production in response to each of five HIV envelope peptides. Potential toxic effects included fatigue, arthralgia, edema, myalgia, and headache. Patients also were noted to have weight gain averaging 4 kg early in the course of treatment.

These results suggest that treatment with rhGH/rhIGF-1 was reasonably well tolerated and that modest improvement in HIV-specific immune function was attained. Further studies will help clarify the therapeutic potential of rhGH/rhIGF-1 as an immunostimulator in the setting of HIV infection.