Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 11, 2026
In Vitro Assay to Evaluate the Impact of Immunoregulatory Pathways on HIV-specific CD4 T Cell Effector Function
Published on: October 15, 2013
A potentially protective role of IL-18 Binding Protein in HIV-infected Long-Term Non-Progressors
Alexandre Iannello1, Suzanne Samarani1, Ossama Allam1
1Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Ste-Justine Research Center/Department of Microbiology, Infectiology & Immunology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Abstract:
An imbalance between IL-18 and its antagonist, IL-18 Binding Protein, occurs in the circulation of HIV-infected individuals. We show here for the first time that HIV-infected Long Term Non-Progressors (LTNPs) do not develop this imbalance, and maintain normal levels of IL-18BP in the circulation. Their circulating levels of the antagonist correlate negatively with viral loads and show a positive trend with CD4+ T cells counts. The maintenance of normal production of IL-18BP may contribute, at least in part, to the ability of LTNPs to delay AIDS progression.
