Atopy, anergic status, and cytokine expression in HIV-infected subjects.
BACKGROUND
In HIV infection T-cell dysfunction resulting in anergy and hypersensitivity reactions precedes T-cell depletion. A shift in the cytokine profile from a type 1 to a type 2 response has been postulated.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to examine the cytokine expression patterns in HIV infection and the relationship to allergy, stage of HIV disease, and other laboratory parameters.


METHODS
A cross-sectional analysis of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p35, IL-13, and IFN-gamma mRNA expression in PBMCs by noncompetitive dot-blot PCR was performed on blood obtained from 18 HIV-infected subjects. Delayed-type hypersensitivity multitests to detect anergy, skin prick testing and in vitro assay for specific IgE antibodies, assay for total IgE, and enumeration of eosinophils, CD4(+), and CD8(+) T cells were also performed on all subjects.


RESULTS
We found evidence of a decline in type 1 cytokines (IL-2, IL-12p35, and IFN-gamma) associated with AIDS, CD4(+) T cells less than 200/microL, anergy, and atopy, although this only reached statistical significance in anergy. There was no associated significant alteration in type 2 cytokines.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of an association between low constitutive in vivo expression of IL-12 mRNA and anergy, which supports earlier data from in vitro stimulation studies. The presence of atopy was associated with a more global reduction in cytokine expression. Because the decline in type 1 cytokines was not accompanied by a similar decline in type 2 cytokines, this does suggest a shift in the type 1/type 2 balance.
D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D017635:Clonal Anergy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000235:genetics; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000235:genetics; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*