Increased levels of serum intercellular adhesion molecule 1 in HIV infection are related to immune activation.
Cytopathic mechanisms in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection involve syncytia formation, and it appears likely that increased expression of intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) is involved in these cell adhesion phenomena. In this study, we determined serum concentrations of soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) in 27 patients with HIV-1 infection and a control group. In addition, we compared sICAM-1 values to CD4+ T-cell counts, serum beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) and serum neopterin levels. HIV-1-infected patients had significantly higher sICAM-1, beta 2M and neopterin levels than controls. The subgroup of patients with Walter-Reed stages 3-6 had only slightly higher sICAM-1 concentrations in serum than Walter-Reed stages 1-2. The sICAM-1 concentrations in HIV-1-seropositive patients correlated with beta 2M levels but neither with neopterin nor with CD4+ T-cell counts. Increased sICAM-1 may result from immune activation, which enhances the expression of ICAM-1 in patients with HIV-1 infection.
Diez-Ruiz
A
A
Institute of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Kaiser
G
G
Jäger
H
H
Birkmann
J
J
Tilz
G P
GP
Wachter
H
H
Fuchs
D
D
D000328:Adult; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000276:immunology
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin