Serum concentrations of fibroblast growth factor 2 are increased in HIV type 1-infected patients and inversely related to survival probability.
HIV-1-infected patients develop a generalized vasculopathy that is clinically most evident as Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), a multifocally appearing endothelial cell-derived tumor. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) is a potent autocrine and paracrine mitogen of endothelial cells and has been implicated in the cell proliferation and angiogenesis observed in KS. Here we determined by ELISA the FGF-2 serum concentrations in different clinical groups of HIV-1-infected patients. AIDS-KS patients (n = 53) and HIV-1-infected patients without KS (n = 39) revealed significantly increased FGF-2 serum concentrations (median, 4.5 and 4.6 pg/ml, respectively), as compared with the healthy control group (n = 22; median, 2.2 pg/ml; p < 0.01). FGF-2 concentrations were highest in untreated HIV-1-infected patients (median, 8.6 pg/ml) and were significantly decreased in patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy (AZT-median, 4.5 pg/ml; HAART-median, 2.5 pg/ml; p < 0.01). In addition, FGF-2 serum concentrations above 5.2 pg/ml were associated with a statistically significant higher risk of death in HIV-1-infected patients. Multivariate analysis showed that this effect is independent of CD4 levels, localization of KS (cutaneous or visceral), AIDS-defining opportunistic diseases, and therapy. Circulating FGF-2 may contribute to AIDS-associated vasculopathy and may be a sensitive and easily accessible surrogate marker to determine the survival time of HIV-1-infected patients and the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy.
Ascherl
G
G
Institute of Molecular Virology, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health GmbH, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
Sgadari
C
C
Bugarini
R
R
Bogner
J
J
Schatz
O
O
Ensoli
B
B
Stürzl
M
M
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000150:complications*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2