title: Impaired cytokine production and suppressed lymphocyte proliferation activity in HCV-infected cocaine and heroin ("speedball") users.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Eddy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ríos-Olivares
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Vilá
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: José W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: J Héctor M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Colón
authors.forename: Nat O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Pagán
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marrero
authors.forename: Zilka M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Ríos-Orraca
authors.forename: Nawal M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Boukli
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shapshak
authors.forename: Rafaela R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Robles
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines