Caspase 1 and caspase 8 in HIV infected patients with and without tuberculosis.
BACKGROUND
Caspase 8 is involved in apoptosis mediated by Fas and p55 tumor necrosis factor receptor ligation in HIV infection. Apoptosis is partially mediated by interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme (caspase-1).


OBJECTIVE
We determined apoptosis, using caspase-1 and caspase-8, among patients with HIV infection, with and without tuberculosis (TB), those with TB alone and healthy individuals.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of caspase-1 and caspase-8 among patients with HIV infection, with and without TB, those with TB alone and healthy individuals.


METHODS
Nineteen HIV infected patients with TB (HIV+/TB+) and 20 with HIV infection without TB (HIV+/TB-) were studied. Fifteen individuals with TB alone were disease controls (HIV-/TB+) and 20 were healthy controls (HIV-/TB-). Caspases were measured by single-step ELISA using commercially available monoclonal antibodies.


METHODS
Two-way ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient.


RESULTS
Mean CD4 counts of HIV+/TB+ were lower than HIV+/TB- (p<0.05). OD value of caspase 1 in HIV+/TB+ was 0.295+0.05, while that in HIV+/TB- it was 0.302+0.18. It was 0.293+0.07 in HIV-/TB+ and in HIV-/TB- the values were 0.287+0.06. OD value of caspase 8 in HIV+/TB+ was 0.307+ 0.07, lower than HIV+/TB- (0.927+0.25). It was 0.008+0.03 in HIV-/TB+ and in HIV-/TB-, 0.074+0.004. Values of caspase 8 in patients with HIV infection (with/without TB) were higher than those with TB alone or healthy individuals (p<0.01). Levels of caspase 8 in HIV+/TB- were higher than patients with HIV+/TB+ (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Levels of caspase-1 are not different irrespective of presence or otherwise of TB and HIV infection. Fas-related apoptosis is higher in HIV infection. With concomitant TB, levels of caspase 8 were lower as compared with those without TB.
Wanchu
A
A
Departments of Internal Medicine, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. awanchu@yahoo.com
Bhatnagar
A
A
Kumar
B
B
Bambery
P
P
Singh
S
S
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053181:Caspase 8; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000378:metabolism*
C505530:CASP8 protein, human; D053181:Caspase 8; D020169:Caspases; D020170:Caspase 1