title: Elevated IgE level in relationship to nutritional status and immune parameters in early human immunodeficiency virus-1 disease.
abstract: Elevation of IgE has been associated with T-cell dysregulation and with the occurrence of opportunistic infections in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The precise cause of IgE overproduction during the early stages of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 disease, however, has not been established. In light of reports demonstrating that IgE production may be affected by vitamin E levels in an animal model, we evaluated nutritional status in relationship to plasma IgE levels and immune parameters in 100 asymptomatic HIV-1-seropositive and 42 HIV-1-seronegative homosexual men. Approximately 18% of the HIV-1-seropositive population demonstrated biochemical evidence of plasma vitamin E deficiency (< 5 micrograms/ml). Subsequent analysis of available samples indicated a dramatic elevation of IgE levels (308 +/- 112 IU/ml) in vitamin E-deficient seropositive subjects (n = 9) as compared with age and CD4-matched HIV-1-seropositive persons with adequate vitamin E levels (n = 16, 118.1 +/- 41.1 IU/ml) and significantly lower levels (59.5 +/- 15.7 IU/ml) in HIV-1-seronegative men (n = 20, p = 0.01). This effect, which was independent of CD4 cell count, did not appear to be influenced by atopic or gastrointestinal parasitic disease. The low plasma vitamin E levels were related at least in part to dietary intake (r = 0.552, p = 0.01), suggesting that supplementation may be warranted in HIV-1-infected persons in whom vitamin E deficiency develops. Analysis of covariance revealed a strong relationship between IgE levels and CD8 cell counts (p < 0.006), and between IgE level and vitamin E deficiency (p < 0.039).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33101, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shor-Posner
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Miguez-Burbano
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feaster
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sauberlich
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Baum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D004032:Diet; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications; D007109:Immunity; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D014810:Vitamin E; D007073:Immunoglobulin E