Immune activation and decreased tryptophan in patients with HIV-1 infection.
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.
Fuchs
D
D
Institute of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Forsman
A
A
Hagberg
L
L
Larsson
M
M
Norkrans
G
G
Reibnegger
G
G
Werner
E R
ER
Wachter
H
H
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
D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D014364:Tryptophan; D014366:Tryptophan Oxygenase