title: [Comparison of immunological profiles between pediatric and adult patients with AIDS in China].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the immunological profiles of pediatric and adult patients with AIDS in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 103 pediatric AIDS patients, 38 adult patients, 88 healthy children, and 72 healthy adults were enrolled. CD4 + T lymphocyte counts were determined by four-color flow cytometer and HIV-RNA levels were measured in EDTA plasma by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-16, IL-18, regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), stromal cell-derived factor-(SDF-1) alpha, SDF-1 beta, and macrophage stimulate protein (MSP) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) and soluble Fas (sFas) were measured to indicate the activation of immune system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean CD4 + T cell count in pediatric patients with AIDS was significantly lower than in healthy children (P < 0.01), as between the adult AIDS patients and healthy adults (P < 0.01). The mean levels of these cytokines in pediatric patients were significantly higher than in healthy children (P < 0.01). The level of MSP in adult patients was significantly lower than in healthy adults and other cytokines were significantly higher (P < 0.01). The mean levels of these cytokines, except SDF1 alpha and beta 2-MG, were significantly higher in pediatric patients than in adult patients (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormal immune activation is induced in both pediatric and adult patients with HIV-1 infection. The level of immune activation is higher in pediatric patients than in adult patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases & Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases of Ministry of Health, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China. flwnp@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Nan-ping
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Fu-jie
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chang-zhong
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hang-ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Hong-xin
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ling-jiao
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hong-shan
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Zai-cun
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D007378:Interleukins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C082332:macrophage stimulating protein; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor