Lack of Polarized Type 1 or Type 2 Cytokine Profile in Asymptomatic HIV-1-Infected Patients During a Two-Year Bimonthly Follow-Up |
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Authors: | Canaris Caruso Licenziati Cantalamessa De Francesco Fallacara Fiorentini Dima Martinelli Manca Balsari & Turano |
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Institution: | Institute of Microbiology, Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy; Infectious Diseases Unit of Lovere, Bergamo, Italy; Chair of Immunology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy |
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Abstract: | The production of type 1 (interferon or IFN-γ) and type 2 (interleukin or IL-4 and IL-10) cytokines by mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive (HIV+) patients untreated with any antiviral, antibacterial or antimycotic drugs, and from healthy individuals, was evaluated by quantitative ELISA. Patients who were HIV+ were characterized by the absence of abnormal cytokine production. The level of each cytokine differed among individuals in the same group with intersubject variations greater for HIV+ patients than for healthy individuals. The longitudinal evaluation of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 production showed intrasubject variations which were particularly marked in HIV+ patients. Accordingly, HIV+ patients and, to a lesser extent, healthy individuals were characterized by a wide spectrum of possible profiles, which were confined to type 0 phenotype. In HIV+ patients no correlation was found between each cytokine level and the number of CD4+ T cells, not even in those with a falling CD4+ T-cell count and clinical symptoms. |
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