title: Evidence for human immunodeficiency virus and Cryptococcus neoformans interactions in the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses in blood during AIDS-associated cryptococcosis.
abstract: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-6, -8 and-10 and soluble TNF receptor II (sTNFR II) levels were measured at baseline, and after antifungal therapy for 2 weeks and 3 months, in plasma from 75 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and 14 HIV-negative patients with cryptococcosis, and in plasma from 14 HIV-positive controls. At baseline, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and sTNFR II levels, and cryptococcal antigen titres, were increased in patients with fungaemia compared to controls (p < 0.02). The mediator levels were not influenced by the severity of the disease or subsequent death, but sTNFR II and IL-10 levels were reduced, together with virus load, in patients receiving anti-retroviral agents (p < 0.01). During antifungal therapy, sTNFR II levels decreased (p 0.003) in parallel with the virus load and with an increase in CD4 T-cell numbers.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Mycologie Moléculaire, Centre National de Référence Mycologie et Antifongiques, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. olortho@pasteur.fr
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lortholary
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sitbon
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dromer
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016469:Fungemia; D006678:HIV; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / Q000097:blood*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II