title: Serum cytokine profiles in acute primary HIV-1 infection and in infectious mononucleosis.
abstract: Serum cytokine profiles, T-cell subsets, and general parameters of immune activation were evaluated in 15 patients with acute primary HIV-1 infection, and compared with those obtained from 18 patients with acute primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and from 18 control subjects in order to elucidate possible defects of immune response to HIV in early phases of virus-host interaction. Mean CD4+ cell count, serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, 5'-neopterin, and beta 2-microglobulin were significantly lower in acute HIV-1 infection than in EBV infection. Both acute HIV-1 and EBV infections were characterized by significantly higher mean CD8+ cell count and soluble CD8 antigen (sCD8) levels compared to control subjects, while acute HIV-1 infection was accompanied by the highest interferon (IFN)-gamma serum concentrations. In primary HIV-1 infection, significant impairment of CD4+- mediated T-helper function may lead to viral escape and persistence of infection despite an early and vigorous CD8+ T-lymphocyte activation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Disease, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biglino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sinicco
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Forno
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pollono
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sciandra
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pich
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gioannini
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin