Interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma production by peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with common variable immunodeficiency.

We evaluated the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from six patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). IL-2 production and IFN-gamma concentrations were not reduced in these patients. As the production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma secreted from TH1 clones was within the normal range in patients with CVID, we concluded that TH1 function was normal in these patients. Our previous report showed B-cell dysfunction in CVID patients. Therefore, we concluded that the immune defect in these patients is caused by B-cell dysfunction rather than T-cell dysfunction.