title: Serum beta 2-microglobulin level increases in HIV infection: relation to seroconversion, CD4 T-cell fall and prognosis.
abstract: Beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M), a marker that is increased in serum during immune activation, was investigated during the course of HIV infection. beta 2-M rose promptly in the first phase of HIV infection in people who were participating in a longitudinal study where serum samples and lymphocyte subset data were obtained at 6-monthly intervals. A rise in beta 2-M level in the first seropositive sample was seen in 93% of 50 HIV seroconverters, and those with high (or low) levels of beta 2-M at the end of year 1 tend to remain high (or low) in the ensuing years. Eighty-three per cent of seroconverters experienced a fall in CD4 T cells in the first year. The magnitude of the CD4 T-cell decline, however, did not correlate with the rise in beta 2-M in specific individuals in the first year. Nevertheless, 2-3 years after seroconversion, the initially increased beta 2-M levels did correlate inversely with the (reduced) level of CD4 T cells (P less than 0.001). Thus, the pattern of disease reflected by beta 2-M level is established in the first year of infection and persists through the following 2 years. beta 2-M levels were found to correlate with rate of CD4 T-cell fall in individuals with established HIV infection. Three groups of HIV-seropositive people with similar CD4 T-cell numbers at the first measurements (about 600-800 x 10(6)/l) but different rates of CD4 T-cell fall over the following 2 years were evaluated by beta 2-M levels. The group with stable CD4 T-cell numbers showed a significantly lower level of beta 2-M than the groups with moderately or rapidly declining CD4 T-cell numbers. Increases in beta 2-M levels during the 2 years of observation were found in people exhibiting a rapid decline in CD4 T cells (about 200 cells/year). The level of beta 2-M appears to be an indicator of HIV activity and of the rate of CD4 T-cell fall.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Immunology and Disease, UCLA (CIRID), School of Medicine 90024-1747.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Y X
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Cumberland
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Detels
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozorgmehri
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fahey
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015415:Biomarkers; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin