title: Cytokine gene expression and T-cell proliferative responses in lymph node mononuclear cells from children with early stage human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The immunologic events taking place in secondary lymphoid tissue from children with early stage human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate cytokine gene expression and proliferative responses in lymph node (LN) biopsies from five children with early stage HIV infection, in the context of LN morphology and viral load.
  
  
  METHODS
  The design of the study was approved by the local Ethical Committee. Cytokine gene expression was studied in LN biopsies and in paired peripheral blood (PB) samples from HIV-infected children by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. T-cell proliferation was assessed by 3H-thymidine incorporation. Viral burden in germinal centers was assessed by video densitometric analysis following immunohistochemical staining for HIV p24.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA were not detected in any LN or PB sample from HIV-infected children. Interferon (IFN)-gamma mRNA was found only in CD8+ cells. IL-12 p35, IL-10, transforming growth factor-(TGF)-beta1, regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, MIP-1beta and IL-16 transcripts were detected in all samples. Proliferation of LN and PB mononuclear cells to polyclonal mitogens and soluble (recall and HIV-related) antigens was impaired as compared with the responses in a group of age-matched healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in cytokine gene expression and T-cell proliferative responses are already detectable in lymph nodes from HIV-infected children at an early stage of disease.
authors: Laboratory of Oncology, G. Gaslini Institute, largo G. Gaslini 5, 16148 Genova, Italy. laboncologia@ospedale-gaslini.ge.it
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Airoldi
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Saverino
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Favre
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Ghiotto
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Tacchetti
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Facchetti
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Piatti
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Li Pira
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Fenoglio
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Duse
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Ciccone
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Manca
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Plebani
authors: C E
authors: CE
authors: Grossi
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Pistoia
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012313:RNA