title: Lack of polarized type 1 or type 2 cytokine profile in asymptomatic HIV-1-infected patients during a two-year bimonthly follow-up.
abstract: The production of type 1 (interferon or IFN-gamma) and type 2 (interleukin or IL-4 and IL-10) cytokines by mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive (HIV+) patients untreated with any antiviral, antibacterial or antimycotic drugs, and from healthy individuals, was evaluated by quantitative ELISA. Patients who were HIV+ were characterized by the absence of abnormal cytokine production. The level of each cytokine differed among individuals in the same group with intersubject variations greater for HIV+ patients than for healthy individuals. The longitudinal evaluation of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 production showed intrasubject variations which were particularly marked in HIV+ patients. Accordingly, HIV+ patients and, to a lesser extent, healthy individuals were characterized by a wide spectrum of possible profiles, which were confined to type 0 phenotype. In HIV+ patients no correlation was found between each cytokine level and the number of CD4+ T cells, not even in those with a falling CD4+ T-cell count and clinical symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, Brescia Medical School, Italy.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Canaris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Licenziati
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cantalamessa
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Francesco
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fallacara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fiorentini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dima
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balsari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turano
mesh_terms: D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma