Magnitude of IFN-gamma production in HIV-1-infected children is associated with virus suppression.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the cytokine production by peripheral blood cells of pediatric patients who have suppressed HIV-1 replication after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).


OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the effect of HAART on the production of T(H)1 and T(H)2 cytokines by HIV-infected children who have suppressed HIV replication.


METHODS
At 3- to 6-month intervals over a 5-year period, CD4(+) T cells were enumerated, plasma HIV-1 RNA was measured, and levels of cytokine production by whole blood cultures were determined in 21 HIV-1-infected children.


RESULTS
Ten patients achieved an HIV-1 RNA level of less than 3000 copies/mL of plasma and maintained that level for at least 15 months (virus-suppressed [VS] group). Eleven patients had a mean HIV-1 RNA level of greater than 10(4) copies/mL of plasma and a mean CD4(+) T-cell count of less than 500/microL of blood (active infection group). The median levels of anti-CD3-induced IL-2, IFN-gamma, and IL-10 in the active infection group were significantly lower than those in the VS group after suppression of the virus. The median slope of IFN-gamma production by means of PHA-stimulated culture after achieving VS status (4.04) was significantly higher than the level before VS status (-1.31, P =.004). The difference in the median slopes for IL-10 production by anti-CD3-stimulated cultures before (0.21) and after (-0.16) achieving VS status was statistically different (P =.027).


CONCLUSIONS
The immune restoration of HIV-1-infected children receiving HAART might be related to an increase in IFN-gamma production and a decrease in the rate of IL-10 production after virus suppression.
Reuben
James M
JM
Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Lee
Bang-Ning
BN
Paul
Mary
M
Kline
Mark W
MW
Cron
Stanley G
SG
Abramson
Stuart
S
Lewis
Dorothy
D
Kozinetz
Claudia A
CA
Shearer
William T
WT
D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D007376:Interleukin-2; D012367:RNA, Viral; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma