title: IL-21 level in Chinese HIV infected individuals  and its dynamics undergoing HAART.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the dynamics of interleukin-21(IL-21) cytokine in the Chinese HIV patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAAPT).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 25 adults with chronic HIV infections, responding to combined highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) guideline criteria were enrolled for a 1-year follow-up. After signing an informed consent, 20 mL blood was collected from each patient at the base line, 6 month and 12 month, respectively. CD4 and CD8 cell count was quantified by flux cytometry, serum HIV RNA quantified by real time PCR and IL-21 concentrations by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-21 levels increased gradually during the follow-up but did not reach the healthy levels. IL-21 correlated positively with the CD4 cells but not with CD8 T cells. HIV RNA correlated negatively with CD4 cell count but did not show any relationship with the CD8 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-21 has potential role in the immunopathogenesis of HIV, and might be an important factor in immune construction during HAART.
authors.affiliation: Eight-Year Program Medical Student of Xiangya School of Medcine, Central South University,  Changsha 410078,China.
authors.forename: Liwen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Mamadou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuhuang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Huaying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000098546:Interleukin-21