title: Immune activation and decreased tryptophan in patients with HIV-1 infection.
abstract: We compared tryptophan, neopterin, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) concentrations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 22 patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Tryptophan levels were found to be decreased in CSF and serum of patients whereas neopterin levels in CSF and serum and serum IFN-gamma concentrations were increased compared to healthy HIV-1 seronegatives. Tryptophan concentrations correlated negatively to neopterin concentrations, and serum neopterin concentrations correlated positively to IFN-gamma concentrations. Thus, decrease of tryptophan levels is associated with chronic immune stimulation in patients with HIV-1 infection. From the data it appears that reduced tryptophan in patients may result from induction of indoleamine (2,3)-dioxygenase by IFN-gamma.
authors: Institute of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Fuchs
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Forsman
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Hagberg
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Larsson
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Norkrans
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Reibnegger
authors: E R
authors: ER
authors: Werner
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Wachter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D014366:Tryptophan Oxygenase / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D014364:Tryptophan; D014366:Tryptophan Oxygenase