HIV infection alters the production of both type 1 and 2 cytokines but does not induce a polarized type 1 or 2 state.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1998. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

HIV infection alters the production of both type 1 and 2 cytokines but does not induce a polarized type 1 or 2 state.

AIDS. 1997 Oct;11(12):1445-52. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE /MED98000113
Fakoya A; Matear PM; Filley E; Rook GA; Stanford J; Gilson RJ; Beecham N; Weller IV; Vyakarnam A; Department of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, University College London; Medical School, UK.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To test the T-helper (TH)1/TH2 cytokine paradigm in HIV infection. DESIGN AND METHODS: Cytokine profiles in two separate studies of HIV patients and controls are presented: (i) a longitudinal study of HIV patients with CD4 counts > 500 x 10(6)/l tested at three timepoints compared with controls; (ii) a blinded cross-sectional study of controls and patients with high > 500 x 10(6)/l) and low (< 500 x 10(6)/l) CD4 counts. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients and controls were tested for the production of two type 1 [interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-gamma] and two type 2 IL-4, IL-10) cytokines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both spontaneous and mitogen-induced cytokine production was measured. RESULTS: HIV infection was noted to have the following effects on cytokine production: (i) it led to the in vivo activation of type 2 cytokines in a small group of individuals with high CD4 numbers characterized by the spontaneous release of IL-4 and IL-10. Longitudinal data showed high spontaneous IL-4 and IL-10 to be a consistent feature of the patient group (at each timepoint some patients were high producers) but to be variable in a given individual; (ii) HIV infection impaired the ability of PBMC to respond to stimuli (selected for their ability to optimally induce each cytokine) in terms of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 production in patients with both high and low CD4 cell counts; and (iii) conversely, HIV infection led to an overproduction of IFN-gamma in patients with high CD4 counts; patients with low CD4 produced normal levels of IFN-gamma. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations did not suggest polarization of the type 1/type 2 cytokine profile in HIV patients. Instead, the data suggested more complex changes to type 1/type 2 cytokine patterns in HIV infection than originally proposed by the TH1/TH2 dichotomy.

Keywords: *Cytokines/BIOSYNTHESIS *HIV Infections/IMMUNOLOGY *HIV-1
980130
M9811075

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