Behavior of serum human major histocompatibility complex class I antigen levels in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients during antiretroviral therapy: correlation with clinical outcome.
Human major histocompatibility complex class I antigens (HLA-A, -B, and -C) are heterodimeric molecules composed of a alpha heavy chain noncovalently associated with an invariant protein known as beta(2)-microglobulin. Beside being expressed on the membrane of the large majority of nucleated cells, HLA class I antigens are evident in serum (sHLA-I). We have previously detected a significant increase in the serum level of beta(2)-microglobulin-associated HLA-I antigens in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients compared with HIV-negative controls. The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) modified the clinical course of the disease and decreased the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related morbidity and mortality. Therefore, we measured the levels of sHLA-I antigens in 64 HIV-infected patients before and during HAART treatment and correlated them with the immunological and virological response to antiretroviral treatment. Serum sHLA-I antigen level was elevated in all HIV-infected patients before and significantly decreased after 36 months of HAART treatment, correlating with the decrease of plasma HIV-RNA level and with the increase of CD4+ T-lymphocyte number. These results suggest that the measurement of sHLA-I antigens serum level might represent a useful surrogate marker to monitor HIV-positive patients undergoing HAART treatment.
Murdaca
Giuseppe
G
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. Giuseppe.Murdaca@unige.it
Contini
Paola
P
Setti
Maurizio
M
Cagnati
Paola
P
Villa
Roberto
R
Lantieri
Francesca
F
Indiveri
Francesco
F
Puppo
Francesco
F
D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D012367:RNA, Viral; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin