Is T-cell activation an unfavourable sign in i.v.-drug addicts infected with HIV?
In a longitudinal study, we examined 183 parenteral drug addicts who were imprisoned in Innsbruck, Austria, from March 1985 to March 1987. Thirty-seven percent of the patients had anti-HIV-antibodies. A 2-year follow-up of 43 seropositive patients revealed some evidence that urinary neopterin levels are of predictive value. Neopterin is produced from human macrophages upon stimulation with interferon gamma and, therefore, represents a sensitive parameter of activated T-cells. Eight patients who developed AIDS-related complex and one of them who contracted AIDS had significantly higher neopterin levels during the previous follow-up than the other groups of patients. Our data support the view that T-cell activation might be a crucial event in the induction of HIV reproduction in vivo.
Fuchs
D N
DN
Institute for Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Hausen
A
A
Hengster
P
P
Reibnegger
G J
GJ
Unterweger
B
B
Werner
E R
ER
Hinterhuber
H
H
Dierich
M P
MP
Wachter
H
H
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000276:immunology / Q000652:urine; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000032:analysis; D019798:Neopterin; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin