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Published on: October 15, 2013
A Cytokine Pattern That Differentiates Preseroconversion From Postseroconversion Phases of Primary HIV Infection
Lucia Pastor1, Erica Parker, Jorge Carrillo
1*AIDS Research Institute-IrsiCaixa, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain; †ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; ‡Institut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain; §School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; ‖Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique; and ¶Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
Researchers identified a specific cytokine signature during early HIV infection before antibody development. This discovery aids in understanding HIV pathogenesis and may reveal new immunotherapy targets for acute HIV.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Acute HIV infection involves active viral replication before seroconversion.
- Primary HIV infection (PHI) presents with nonspecific symptoms and an inflammatory response.
- This study investigates innate immune biomarkers preceding a full humoral response in PHI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify inflammatory biomarker patterns during the innate immunological reaction in acute HIV infection.
- To characterize the cytokine signature associated with the preseroconversion phase of PHI.
Main Methods:
- Symptom-based screening identified acute HIV infection in Mozambique.
- Plasma biomarker levels were quantified using Luminex and ELISA.
- HIV antibody stages were determined by flow cytometry and Western blot; statistical analysis employed random forest and logistic regression.
Main Results:
- 85 individuals with PHI were enrolled, classified into Fiebig stages I-VI.
- Significant differences in B-cell activating factor, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, sCD163, and interferon-γ-induced monokine were observed between early (I-IV) and late (V-VI) immune stages.
- A distinct cytokine signature accurately classified patients in the preseroconversion phase (92.5% sensitivity, 81.2% specificity).
Conclusions:
- A specific cytokine signature characterizes the preseroconversion stage of primary HIV infection.
- This signature may elucidate early HIV pathogenic events.
- Potential new targets for immunotherapy aimed at modulating the cytokine response in HIV infection were identified.
