Elevated serum levels of soluble tumour necrosis factor receptors (sTNF-R) in patients with HIV infection.
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.
Kalinkovich
A
A
R. Ben-Ari Institute of Clinical Immunology, Kaplan Hospital, Hebrew University Medical School, Israel.
Engelmann
H
H
Harpaz
N
N
Burstein
R
R
Barak
V
V
Kalickman
I
I
Wallach
D
D
Bentwich
Z
Z
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
D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor