Plasma lactoferrin levels are decreased in end-stage AIDS patients. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Plasma lactoferrin levels are decreased in end-stage AIDS patients.

Viral Immunol. 1999;12(3):197-203. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/20000448
van der Strate BW; Harmsen MC; The TH; Sprenger HG; de Vries H; Eikelboom MC; Kuipers ME; Meijer DK; Swart PJ; Department of Pharmacokinetics and Drug Delivery, Groningen; University Institute for Drug Exploration, University Centre for; Pharmacy, The Netherlands. B.W.A.van.der.Strate@farm.rug.nl

Abstract: The antimicrobial protein lactoferrin (Lf) is present in plasma and in mucosal secretions. Using ELISA we analysed plasma and saliva of HIV-infected patients, patients with AIDS, and healthy controls for the presence of secreted Lf. The plasma Lf levels of AIDS patients (classification C3) were significantly lower (p < 0.001) as compared to asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV infected patients, or controls. In addition, plasma Lf levels closely correlated with neutrophilic granulocyte counts in the HIV-infected patients. Thus, basal plasma Lf levels are likely the result of Lf release by neutrophilic granulocytes. The Candida titres present in the oral cavity were determined in a part of the HIV-infected patient group. As it appeared, the presence of this opportunistic pathogen always coincided with low levels of salivary Lf levels. We conclude that Lf, as part of the nonspecific immune system, might play an important role in the first line of defense against opportunistic microbial infections in AIDS patients.

Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*BLOOD/IMMUNOLOGY/ PHYSIOPATHOLOGY AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/MICROBIOLOGY Candidiasis/MICROBIOLOGY Human Lactoferrin/*BLOOD/IMMUNOLOGY Leukocyte Count Neutrophils/CYTOLOGY Saliva Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

KWDjournalarticleacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDblood/immunology/physiopathologyaids-relatedopportunisticinfections/microbiologycandidiasis/microbiologyhumanlactoferrin/KWDblood/immunologyleukocytecountneutrophils/cytologysalivasupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov't
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