title: Proliferative capacity and cytokine production by cells of HIV-infected and uninfected adults with different helminth infection phenotypes in South Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been suggested that the proliferative capacity of cells from individuals with HIV or both HIV and helminth infections is attenuated and cytokine production is dysregulated. This study describes peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation capacity and cytokine profile from individuals with HIV or both HIV and helminth infections in South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty HIV-infected and 22 HIV-uninfected participants were randomly selected and stratified into different helminth infection phenotypes by egg excretion and Ascaris lumbricoides specific -immunoglobulin-E (IgE) levels. Five day cell cultures of participants, unstimulated or stimulated with Phytohaemaglutinnin, Streptokinase, HIV-1 p24 and Ascaris lumbricoides worm antigens were stained with monoclonal antibody-fluorochrome conjugates (Ki67-FITC and CTLA-APC-4). Percentage expression of Ki67 and CTLA-4 was measured to determine cell proliferation and regulation, respectively. Culture supernatants were analysed for the expression of 13 cytokines using the Bioplex (BioRad) system. Kruskal Wallis was used to test for differences in variables between helminth infected subgroups who were either having eggs in stool and high IgE (egg+IgEhi); or eggs in stool and low IgE (egg+IgElo); or no eggs in stool and high IgE (egg-IgEhi) and those without helminth infection (egg-IgElo).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals excreting eggs in stool with high serum IgE (egg+IgEhi phenotype) had potent mitogen responses but consistently produced low, but statistically non-significant antigen-specific (HIV-1 p24 (p = 0.41) and Ascaris (p = 0.19) and recall antigen (Streptokinase; p = 0.31) Ki67 responses. The group also had reduced type 1 cytokines. Individuals excreting eggs in stool with low serum IgE( egg+IgElo phenotype) had a more favourable antiviral profile, characterized by higher IFNγ, IL-2, lower IL-4 and higher IL-10 production.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that dual HIV/helminth infection with egg excretion and/or high Ascaris IgE phenotye may be linked with poor proliferative capacity and deleterious cytokine profile with regards to HIV control.
authors.affiliation: School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P,O, Box 7, Congella 4001, South Africa. Kwitshana@ukzn.ac.za.
authors.forename: Zilungile L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Mkhize-Kwitshana
authors.forename: Musawenkosi Lh
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mabaso
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walzl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015331:Cohort Studies; D060085:Coinfection / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines