Soluble tumour necrosis factor receptors (sTNF-R) and HIV infection: correlation to CD8+ lymphocytes.
The objective of this study was to determine sTNF-R, type I (p55) and type II (p75) in sera of HIV-infected male homosexuals and correlate them to T lymphocyte subpopulations and course of HIV infection. Serum samples were obtained from 39 HIV-1+ asymptomatic male homosexuals, 10 symptomatic (ARC and AIDS) male homosexuals and 44 HIV- non-homosexual healthy controls. sTNF-R levels were determined by ELISA with specific MoAbs and polyclonal antibodies to the sTNF-R proteins. sTNF-RI and II levels were significantly elevated in 72% and 74% respectively of HIV+ asymptomatic male homosexuals and in all of the symptomatic male homosexuals. In sequential studies a highly significant positive correlation was found between sTNF-RI and sTNF-RII (r = 0.8, P < 0.001) and between both sTNF-R and CD8+ lymphocyte counts (r = 0.6 and 0.92, respectively, P < 0.01-0.001) during the asymptomatic stage of the infection. All these correlations were lost, however, during the symptomatic phase of the disease. These results suggest that: (i) HIV infection is associated with elevation of sTNF-R serum levels; (ii) sTNF-R levels are strongly correlated to CD8+ lymphocytes during the asymptomatic stage of HIV infection.
R. Ben-Ari Institute of Clinical Immunology, Kaplan Hospital, Hebrew University Medical School, Rehovot, Israel.
A
A
Kalinkovich
G
G
Livshits
H
H
Engelmann
N
N
Harpaz
R
R
Burstein
M
M
Kaminsky
D
D
Wallach
Z
Z
Bentwich
D000328:Adult; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor