Plasma cytokine levels during acute HIV-1 infection predict HIV disease progression.
BACKGROUND
Both T-cell activation during early HIV-1 infection and soluble markers of immune activation during chronic infection are predictive of HIV disease progression. Although the acute phase of HIV infection is associated with increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production, the relationship between cytokine concentrations and HIV pathogenesis is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To identify cytokine biomarkers measurable in plasma during acute HIV-1 infection that predict HIV disease progression.


METHODS
Study including 40 South African women who became infected with HIV-1 and were followed longitudinally from the time of infection.


METHODS
The concentrations of 30 cytokines in plasma from women with acute HIV-1 infection were measured and associations between cytokine levels and both viral load set point 12 months postinfection and time taken for CD4 cell counts to fall below 350 cells/microl were determined using multivariate and Cox proportional hazards regression.


RESULTS
We found that the concentrations of five plasma cytokines, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IFN-gamma, IL-7 and IL-15 in women with acute infection predicted 66% of the variation in viral load set point 12 months postinfection. IL-12p40, IL-12p70 and IFN-gamma were significantly associated with lower viral load, whereas IL-7 and IL-15 were associated with higher viral load. Plasma concentrations of IL-12p40 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor during acute infection were associated with maintenance of CD4 cell counts above 350 cells/microl, whereas IL-1alpha, eotaxin and IL-7 were associated with more rapid CD4 loss.


CONCLUSIONS
A small panel of plasma cytokines during acute HIV-1 infection was predictive of long-term HIV disease prognosis in this group of South African women.
Division of Medical Virology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Lindi
L
Roberts
Jo-Ann S
JA
Passmore
Carolyn
C
Williamson
Francesca
F
Little
Lisa M
LM
Bebell
Koleka
K
Mlisana
Wendy A
WA
Burgers
Francois
F
van Loggerenberg
Gerhard
G
Walzl
Joel F
JF
Djoba Siawaya
Quarraisha Abdool
QA
Karim
Salim S Abdool
SS
Karim
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine