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Evidence for a role of T‐helper type 2 cytokines in the acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus syncytium‐inducing phenotype
Author(s) -
Yolanda Torres,
Francisco J. Medrano,
Craig Mccaff Rey,
Calderón Ej,
A Sánchez-Quijano,
E Lissén,
Manuel Leal
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2362.1998.00368.x
Subject(s) - syncytium , phenotype , virology , immunology , virus , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , biology , genetics , gene
Background The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the serum cytokine pattern of T‐helper (Th) response and the acquisition of syncytium‐inducing (SI) human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) variants in HIV‐1‐seropositive patients treated with antiretroviral drugs. Methods Serum cytokines of Th1/Th2 responses were analysed in a case–control study of 20 individuals selected from a cohort of HIV‐1‐infected patients without SI variants at entry, who developed or did not develop SI virus during a prospective follow‐up. A group of 10 patients with SI variants at study entry was also evaluated. Serum concentration of interferon (IFN) gamma, interleukin (IL) 2, IL‐4 and IL‐10 was evaluated by mean of a commercial enzyme immunoassay. Results Despite close matching for immunological (CD4 + cell count) and virological (p24 antigen, serum HIV viraemia) parameters, SI‐converting patients showed at baseline significantly lower serum levels of IL‐2 and higher concentrations of IL‐4 than those who remained persistently negative for SI variants. Shortly after the phenotype conversion, SI‐converting patients were characterized by significantly high serum concentration of IL‐4 and by low levels of IFN‐γ (Th2‐like pattern). Patients with SI phenotype at study entry featured lower mean levels of both IL‐4 and IL‐10, but mean IFN‐γ and IL‐2 values were higher, although the clinical and immunological baseline was also poorer and no statistical analysis could be applied. Conclusion Serum cytokine pattern of Th1/Th2 response differs between patients with NSI and SI phenotype. Our data strongly suggest that the Th2 cytokine pattern could be associated with the acquisition of the SI HIV‐1 phenotype.