title: Comparison of the quantitative competitive and semiquantitative RT-PCR methods for the determination of interferon-gamma mRNA levels in AIDS-free HIV-infected individuals.
abstract: IFN-gamma mRNA expression was evaluated in nonstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of HIV-infected and seronegative individuals using quantitative competitive and semiquantitative RT-PCR and the sensitivity of these methods was compared. A significant correlation was found between quantitative competitive and semiquantitative RT-PCR in samples of both HIV-seronegative (P = 0.004) and HIV-infected individuals (P = 0.0004). PBMC from HIV-infected individuals presented a remarkable increase of IFN-gamma mRNA expression, as determined by both types of RT-PCR methods. Semiquantitative RT-PCR even without an internal standard is also acceptable for measuring cytokine mRNA expression, but less reliable if small amounts are quantified. Moreover, we found that increased IFN-gamma mRNA expression is independent of CD4+ cell count in AIDS-free HIV-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Dermato-Venereology, Budapest, Hungary. Bareva@bor.sote.hu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barabás
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Várkonyi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horváth
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma