Impaired cytokine production and suppressed lymphocyte proliferation activity in HCV-infected cocaine and heroin ("speedball") users.
HCV-infected "speedball" users (n = 30) were selected from an original cohort of 400 intravenous drug users for cytokine analysis. Cytokine concentrations (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12) were determined in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultures derived ex vivo from these patients. In addition, lymphocyte proliferation was measured in 49 HCV-positive "speedball" users. TNF-alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 cytokines and not IL-1beta were significantly increased in plasma from HCV-positive "speedball" users compared with healthy controls. Except for IL-10, all other cytokines measured were augmented in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated PBMC cultures from HCV-positive "speedball" users. Likewise, overproduction of cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 and IFN-gamma, was consistently detected when PBMC cultures from HCV-positive "speedball" users were stimulated with a biological response modifier. However, HCV-infected "speedball" users showed significant reduction in lymphoproliferative activity. Compared with healthy subjects, there was a consistent overproduction of both TH1 and TH2 type cytokines in the plasma and PBMC's of HCV-infected "speedball" users. Furthermore, there was a persistent reduction of lymphoproliferative activity in this group. These immunologic abnormalities, coupled with the range of response between the two TH-types in HCV-infected "speedball" users, suggest impairment in the regulatory mechanism of the TH1-TH2 system.
Ríos-Olivares
Eddy
E
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine, Laurel Ave. Urb. Santa Juanita, Bayamón 00960-6032, PR, USA. erios@uccaribe.edu
Vilá
Luis M
LM
Reyes
Juan C
JC
Rodríguez
José W
JW
Colón
J Héctor M
JH
Pagán
Nat O
NO
Marrero
Amalia
A
Ríos-Orraca
Zilka M
ZM
Boukli
Nawal M
NM
Shapshak
Paul
P
Robles
Rafaela R
RR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines