title: Cytokine levels in CSF and neuropsychological performance in HIV patients.
abstract: HIV-associated dementia and its precursors are frequently observed complications of HIV infection, even in the presence of combination antiretroviral treatment (cART). The development, surveillance and treatment of this condition are still not completely understood. Cytokines, as immunological transmitters, may be one key to gaining a deeper understanding of the disease. A total of 33 HIV-positive male patients were evaluated by neuropsychological testing, lumbar and venous puncture, neuroimaging and neurological examination. The cytokine content in the CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) was examined by a solid-phase protein array. The Digit-Symbol Test, contraction time analysis, Rey-Osterrieth Figure and Grooved-Pegboard Test showed inferior results in the presence of an inflammatory CSF environment, whereas neuroprotective or anti-inflammatory conditions were correlated to better results in contraction time analysis. Higher CSF levels of cytokines were independently correlated with the duration of HIV infection. The study showed a correlation of cytokine levels in the CSF of HIV patients with test results of their neuropsychological functioning. The effect was pronounced with regard to the more complex executive tasks. Determining CSF cytokine levels may be a useful supplement to the assessment of HIV patients and contribute helpful information to predict neurocognitive performance. Therapeutic strategies to ameliorate a negative impact of an altered cytokine milieu may aid in slowing the evolution of neurocognitive dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical School, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany. tnolting@me.com
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nolting
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindecke
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koutsilieri
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maschke
authors.forename: Ingo-W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Husstedt
authors.forename: Sieghart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sopper
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stüve
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arendt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003071:Cognition; D016207:Cytokines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000523:psychology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D016207:Cytokines