Cytokine profiles in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.
BACKGROUND
There have been few longitudinal studies of cytokine production in neonatally acquired HIV-1 infection and none in Asian or Chinese children.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether monitoring cytokine production could contribute to the better management of pediatric patients with HIV-1 infection.


METHODS
Clinical Immunology Laboratory and Pediatrics Department, University Hospital, Hong Kong.


METHODS
Ten Asian and 2 Eurasian children infected with HIV-1 by mother-to-child transmission were followed for up to 5 years while on treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).


METHODS
Numbers of unstimulated and mitogen-activated cytokine-secreting cells (IFN-gamma, interleukin [IL]-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-alpha) were measured by ELISPOT assay at frequent intervals, and correlations were sought with CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts and viral loads.


RESULTS
Mitogen-stimulated IL-2-secreting cells were directly associated with recovery of CD4+ cells. Correlations with viral load were found for Con A-induced IFN-gamma, Con A-induced IL-4, and unstimulated IL-10, suggesting that these cytokines were either suppressed by high virus levels or that higher cytokine levels suppressed virus. IFN-gamma, IL-2-, IL-4-, and IL-12-secreting cells induced by PHA, Con A, and/or SAC tended to increase for the first 3-4 years of treatment but declined thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
Alterations in cytokine profiles were not associated with adverse clinical events and there was little evidence to indicate that monitoring cytokine enzyme-linked immunospots (ELISPOTs) could contribute to pediatric patient management.
Jones
Brian M
BM
Head of Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China. bmjones@ha.org.hk.
Chiu
Susan Ss
SS
Wong
Wilfred Hs
WH
Lim
Wilina Wl
WW
Lau
Yu-Lung
YL