Evidence for a role of T-helper type 2 cytokines in the acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus syncytium-inducing phenotype.
BACKGROUND
The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the serum cytokine pattern of T-helper (Th) response and the acquisition of syncytium-inducing (SI) human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) variants in HIV-1-seropositive patients treated with antiretroviral drugs.


METHODS
Serum cytokines of Th1/Th2 responses were analysed in a case-control study of 20 individuals selected from a cohort of HIV-1-infected patients without SI variants at entry, who developed or did not develop SI virus during a prospective follow-up. A group of 10 patients with SI variants at study entry was also evaluated. Serum concentration of interferon (IFN) gamma, interleukin (IL) 2, IL-4 and IL-10 was evaluated by mean of a commercial enzyme immunoassay.


RESULTS
Despite close matching for immunological (CD4+ cell count) and virological (p24 antigen, serum HIV viraemia) parameters, SI-converting patients showed at baseline significantly lower serum levels of IL-2 and higher concentrations of IL-4 than those who remained persistently negative for SI variants. Shortly after the phenotype conversion, SI-converting patients were characterized by significantly high serum concentration of IL-4 and by low levels of IFN-gamma (Th2-like pattern). Patients with SI phenotype at study entry featured lower mean levels of both IL-4 and IL-10, but mean IFN-gamma and IL-2 values were higher, although the clinical and immunological baseline was also poorer and no statistical analysis could be applied.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum cytokine pattern of Th1/Th2 response differs between patients with NSI and SI phenotype. Our data strongly suggest that the Th2 cytokine pattern could be associated with the acquisition of the SI HIV-1 phenotype.
Torres
Y
Y
Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, Seville, Spain.
Medrano
F J
FJ
Rey
C
C
Calderón
E J
EJ
Sánchez-Quijano
A
A
Lissen
E
E
Leal
M
M
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D010641:Phenotype; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma