SUMMARYImmune unresponsiveness in HIV-1 infection can result from impaired signals delivered by the costimulatory CD28-B7 pathway and the altered production of immunoregulatory cytokines, in particular IL-10, whose production is altered in HIV-1 infection. In this study we investigate IL-10 regulation in T cells and monocytes from HIV þ individuals, and its association with CD28-mediated T cell proliferation. IL-10 production as analysed in T cell-and monocyte-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and by intracellular staining at the single-cell level, reveals a defect in IL-10 production by CD4 þ and CD8 þ T cells, whereas monocytes constitute the major IL-10-producing cell type. To investigate the impact of IL-10 on immune responsiveness, CD28-mediated proliferative responses in HIV þ individuals were correlated with PHA-induced IL-10 production. CD4 þ T cells expressed CD28, yet exhibited markedly reduced CD28-mediated cell proliferation. This CD28-mediated CD4 þ T cell proliferation was found to be inversely associated with the levels of PHAinduced IL-10 production and could be restored, at least in part, by anti-IL-10 antibodies. These results suggest that IL-10 production is differentially regulated in T cells and monocytes of HIV þ individuals, and that IL-10 may have a role in inducing immune unresponsiveness by modulating the CD28-B7 pathway.