title: Elevated serum levels of soluble tumour necrosis factor receptors (sTNF-R) in patients with HIV infection.
abstract: Serum levels of the soluble form of tumour necrosis factor receptor type II (p75) (sTNF-R) were determined in HIV-infected individuals and risk groups and were then correlated with the course of infection and prognosis. sTNF-R levels were determined by an ELISA with MoAbs and polyclonal antibodies to urine-derived sTNF-R proteins. The mean +/- s.e. levels of sTNF-R in the sera of 49 HIV+ male homosexuals, 34 HIV- male homosexuals and 44 matched controls were 6.1 +/- 0.3 ng/ml, 4.4 +/- 0.3 ng/ml and 3.4 +/- 0.2 ng/ml, respectively. All these values were significantly different between each of the groups (P less than 0.001-0.05). Sequential studies of sTNF-R revealed higher levels following seroconversion in 5/8 individuals, remained persistently high during the asymptomatic phase of the infection and became even more elevated in some ARC and AIDS patients. At the same time TNF-alpha was undetectable in sera obtained from HIV+ male homosexuals and from healthy controls. This was independent of stage of HIV infection, serum sTNF-R level and type of ELISA kit used. These findings suggest that TNF-alpha/TNF-R system is turned on before and during HIV infection and raise the possibility that sTNF-R, the natural inhibitor of TNF, may be of importance in determining the course and probably prognosis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: R. Ben-Ari Institute of Clinical Immunology, Kaplan Hospital, Hebrew University Medical School, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalinkovich
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Engelmann
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harpaz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burstein
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barak
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kalickman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wallach
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bentwich
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor