Decreased levels of circulating IL-21 in HIV-infected AIDS patients: correlation with CD4+ T-cell counts.
IL-21 is a relatively newly discovered multifunctional and pleiotropic cytokine. It is produced primarily by CD4(+) T cells, the principal targets of the virus, and therefore this cytokine has special relevance to HIV infection. Here we show for the first time that serum levels of this cytokine are significantly reduced in HIV-infected AIDS patients and correlate significantly with their CD4(+) T-cell counts. These data suggest that the cytokine levels could act as a valuable biomarker for the progression of AIDS.
Iannello
Alexandre
A
Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Tremblay
Cecile
C
Routy
Jean-Pierre
JP
Boulassel
Mohamed-Rachid
MR
Toma
Emil
E
Ahmad
Ali
A
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D019562:Viral Load; D000098546:Interleukin-21
D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21