title: IMMUNOLOGICAL PROFILES IN HIV POSITIVE PATIENTS FOLLOWING HAART INITIATION IN KIGALI, RWANDA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin-10, IL-2 and IFN-γ are some of the crucial cytokines associated with HIV infection and pathogenesis. While IL-2 and IFN-γ play critical roles in host resistance to infection, IL-10 inhibits the synthesis IFN-γ, IL-2 at mRNA and protein level; exacerbating damage to immune system.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the levels of, changes in and correlation between CD4 count, viral load, IL-10, IL-2 and IFN-γ before HAART and at six months of HAART among HIV positive patients in Kigali; with a view to understand cytokine networks particularly in relation to HAART; and to see whether they can be used as alternative markers of the disease progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kagugu, Kimironko, Biryogo, Gitega Health Centres and Centre Medico-Social Cornum; all located in Kigali.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty three (33) HAART initiation eligible HIV positive patients including 13 women and 20 men.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A drop in viral load (though only a small number of patients achieved an undetectable viraemia); a recovery of CD4+ cells, a decrease in IL-10 (though it remained high for many patients especially those with unchanged viraemia); and an increase in IL-2 and IFN-γ indicated a successful HAART. A negative correlation between CD4 count and viral load and between CD4 count and IL-10 (but r < -0.5) was observed. IL-10 correlated positively and strongly with viremia (r > 0.5 at both time points: p-values < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between CD4 count, IL-2 and IFN-y.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results demonstrated the down-regulatory effect of IL-10 on Th1 cytokines and that a shift from Th1 to Th2 cytokine is associated with HIV disease progression. A successful HAART results in CD4+ cells recovery, drop in viraemia and IL-10 with up-regulation of Th1 cytokines. Also, findings show potential usefulness of IL-10 as a marker of HIV disease progression.
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Twizerimana
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Mwatha
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Musabyimana
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Kayigi
authors: J De Dieu
authors: Jde D
authors: Harelimana
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Karanja
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Mutesa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012432:Rwanda; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma