title: Th1/Th2 cytokine expression in saliva of HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals: a pilot study in HIV-positive individuals with oropharyngeal candidiasis.
abstract: Current data suggest that T-helper (Th)2-type cytokine responses are often associated with progression to AIDS in HIV-positive individuals. Similarly, Th2-type cytokines are associated with susceptibility to mucosal candidiasis, of which oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is one of the most common opportunistic infections in HIV-positive individuals. Although little information is available on host defense mechanisms at the level of the oral mucosa, recent studies suggest that local cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is equally or more important than that in the periphery for host defense against mucosal Candida albicans infections. This study investigated the potential presence of oral-associated CMI through the expression of Th1/Th2-type cytokines in saliva of immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals with and without OPC. Results showed a constitutive mixed Th1/Th2 cytokine expression (Th0) in whole saliva of healthy HIV-negative individuals. In contrast, HIV-positive individuals had a dominant Th2-type salivary cytokine profile (interleukin-4 [IL-4], IL-10) (IL-2, interferon-y [IFN-gamma], IL-12) that seemingly resulted from a lack of Th1-type cytokines rather than enhanced Th2-type cytokines. Moreover, pilot analyses of those with OPC showed evidence for a more profound salivary Th2-type profile. Both HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients, irrespective of CD4 counts, had some level of positive in vitro systemic lymphocyte proliferative responses to C albicans antigens. These results suggest that the Th1/Th2 cytokine dichotomy in HIV disease is detectable in situ in oral secretions and may be a useful indicator of oral-associated CMI to better understand resistance/susceptibility of HIV-positive individuals to oral opportunistic infections, including OPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Dentistry, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans 70119, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Leigh
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Wormley
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gallaher
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Fidel
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000032:analysis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma