Serum levels of Fas/Apo-1 and Bcl-2 in children with HIV-1 infection.
Apoptosis of CD4-positive T cells is considered to be involved in depletion of CD4-positive T cells in adult patients with HIV-1 infection. In this report we evaluated serum levels of soluble Fas/Apo-1 and circulating bcl-2 protein (an antiapoptotic molecule) in HIV-1-infected children, and 30 HIV-1 seronegative children. Significantly higher levels of Fas/Apo-1 were observed in 13 HIV-1-infected children than in non-infected control children (p < 0.001), whereas serum levels of bcl-2 were significantly decreased (p=0.002). Seronegative children born to HIV-infected mothers displayed significantly decreased (p < 0.05) serum levels of bcl-2. By contrast, children born to HIV-seronegative mothers and suffering from acute lower respiratory infection had normal levels of bcl-2 and Fas/Apo-1. These data suggest that upregulation of Fas/Apo-1 along with downregulation of bcl-2 protein may contribute to apoptosis in children with HIV-1 infection.
Torre
D
D
Division of Infectious Diseases, Regional Hospital and Foundation Macchi, Varese, Italy.
Zeroli
C
C
Speranza
F
F
Martegani
R
R
Fiori
G
G
Airoldi
M
M
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000097:blood*; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000097:blood*
C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor