Cytokine profiles in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.
BACKGROUND
There have been few longitudinal studies of cytokine production in neonatally acquired HIV-1 infection and none in Asian or Chinese children.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether monitoring cytokine production could contribute to the better management of pediatric patients with HIV-1 infection.


METHODS
Clinical Immunology Laboratory and Pediatrics Department, University Hospital, Hong Kong.


METHODS
Ten Asian and 2 Eurasian children infected with HIV-1 by mother-to-child transmission were followed for up to 5 years while on treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).


METHODS
Numbers of unstimulated and mitogen-activated cytokine-secreting cells (IFN-gamma, interleukin [IL]-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-alpha) were measured by ELISPOT assay at frequent intervals, and correlations were sought with CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts and viral loads.


RESULTS
Mitogen-stimulated IL-2-secreting cells were directly associated with recovery of CD4+ cells. Correlations with viral load were found for Con A-induced IFN-gamma, Con A-induced IL-4, and unstimulated IL-10, suggesting that these cytokines were either suppressed by high virus levels or that higher cytokine levels suppressed virus. IFN-gamma, IL-2-, IL-4-, and IL-12-secreting cells induced by PHA, Con A, and/or SAC tended to increase for the first 3-4 years of treatment but declined thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
Alterations in cytokine profiles were not associated with adverse clinical events and there was little evidence to indicate that monitoring cytokine enzyme-linked immunospots (ELISPOTs) could contribute to pediatric patient management.
Jones
Brian M
BM
Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. bmjones@ha.org.hk
Chiu
Susan S S
SS
Wong
Wilfred H S
WH
Lim
Wilina W L
WW
Lau
Yu-lung
YL
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000639:trends; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000099227:Abacavir
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019259:Lamivudine; D015215:Zidovudine; C418262:abacavir, lamivudine, and zidovudine drug combination; D000099227:Abacavir