Type 1 cytokine production and low prevalence of viral isolation correlate with long-term nonprogression in HIV infection

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1996 Jul 20;12(11):1053-61. doi: 10.1089/aid.1996.12.1053.

Abstract

Cytokine production, prevalence of viral isolation, and surface marker expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed in HIV+ individuals with different patterns of disease progression to establish correlations between these parameters. Thus, mitogen-stimulated in vitro production of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) (type 1 cytokines), and of IL-4 and IL-10 (type 2 cytokines) as well as prevalence of viral isolation were evaluated in 26 HIV+ long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs), in 28 HIV+ patients with progressive HIV infection (PI), and in 24 HIV-seronegative controls (HCs). Surface expression of activation and nonactivation markers was also analyzed in a group of these donors. We report that (1) IL-2 and IFN-gamma production is reduced and IL-4 and IL-10 production is increased in PI patients compared to HCs and LTNPs; (2) prevalence of HIV isolation is lower in LTNPs compared to PI, and the primary viral isolates in LTNPs show a slow/low (S/L) phenotype; and (3) the elevated production of type 2 cytokines is paralleled by an increase in CD57+CD4+CD7- lymphocytes. Thus, whereas a high IL-2, high IFN-gamma/low IL-4, low IL-10 cytokine production pattern is present in HC and in LTNP HIV+, progression of HIV infection is associated with a low IL-2 low IFN-gamma/high IL-4, high IL-10 cytokine profile; increased prevalence of HIV isolation; and an augmented percentage of CD57+CD4+CD7- lymphocytes. These findings further confirm that a dominant type 1 cytokine profile together with reduced prevalence of virus isolation is associated with lack of progression in HIV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / metabolism*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis
  • Kinetics
  • Monocytes / drug effects
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Phytohemagglutinins / pharmacology
  • Survivors
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-2
  • Phytohemagglutinins
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma