title: Plasma interleukin-18 is associated with viral load and disease progression in HIV-1-infected patients.
abstract: Recent studies demonstrate persistent elevation of interleukin-18 (IL-18) concentration in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients. Due to pleiotropic action of IL-18 on the immune system, dysregulation of its synthesis may lead to inappropriate immune activation. The aim of this study was to determine possible correlation between IL-18 levels and the natural stages of HIV-1 infection. IL-18 plasma concentrations were determined in 42 patients in different stages of an HIV-1 infection and in 15 healthy controls. HIV infection resulted in a more than fourfold increase of plasma IL-18 concentration compared to healthy individuals (865 +/- 87 vs. 206 +/- 32 pg/ml, P < 0.001). Moreover, a positive correlation between plasma IL-18 concentration and HIV viral load was found (r = 0.44, P < 0.01). Further analysis showed marked elevation of IL-18 levels in late-stage symptomatic patients. Plasma IL-18 concentrations in patients receiving high-activity antiretroviral treatment (HAART) were significantly lower than in those not undergoing antiretroviral treatment. Individuals who did not reach viral suppression showed higher IL-18 plasma concentration than the group with achieved viral suppression. Excessive production of IL-18 observed in our study may promote viral replication and disease progression in advanced, especially late-stage HIV-infected patients. Furthermore, reduction of IL-18 concentration can be an important step in HAART-related immune restoration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, Zurawia 14 Street, 15-540 Bialystok, Poland. alicja@poczta.onet.pl
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiercinska-Drapalo
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaroszewicz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flisiak
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prokopowicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18