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Published on: July 1, 2013
Analysis of apoptosis and a Th1/Th2 phenotype in HIV-infected patients
M Sarih1, W E Maâtaoui, A Benslimane
1Centre d'Immunologie, Faculté de Medecine et Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco.
Insights
Lymphocytes from HIV patients undergo apoptosis more readily, especially in advanced stages with low CD4 cell counts. Cytokine production like IL-2 and IL-10 increases with HIV disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is characterized by immune dysregulation.
- Lymphocyte apoptosis and altered cytokine profiles are observed in HIV patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate lymphocyte apoptosis and cytokine production in HIV-infected individuals.
- To correlate these immune changes with disease progression and CD4 cell counts.
Main Methods:
- In vitro culture of lymphocytes from HIV-positive and HIV-negative subjects.
- Assessment of spontaneous apoptosis and cytokine production (IL-2, IL-10, IFN-gamma, IL-4) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).
- Correlation of apoptosis rates and cytokine levels with CD4 cell counts.
Main Results:
- Lymphocytes from HIV patients showed significantly higher rates of apoptosis compared to controls.
- Apoptosis increased with lower CD4 cell counts (< 200 cells/microliter).
- Spontaneous production of IL-2 and IL-10 by PBMCs was elevated in HIV-infected subjects and increased with disease progression.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous lymphocyte apoptosis is associated with advanced HIV disease.
- Elevated IL-2 and IL-10 production correlates with HIV progression.
- No evidence of a Th1 to Th2 phenotype switch was observed in vivo.
Abstract:
Lymphocytes from HIV patients, unlike those from normal HIV-negative subjects, underwent apoptosis upon in vitro culture. We found that the percentage of lymphocytes undergoing apoptosis was significantly higher (P = 0.005) in patients with low CD4 cell counts (< 200 CD4 cells/microliter) (60%) than in patients at earlier stage (> 500 CD4 cells/microliter) (35%). Serum IgE levels increased in two of six patients at last stage and in two of five patients at earlier stage. Spontaneous production of both IL-2 and IL-10, by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after 48 h in culture, was greater in HIV-infected subjects and increased with disease progression. IFN-gamma production was greater in HIV-infected subjects but there was no evident change with disease progression. IL-4 production was barely detectable or not detected in both HIV-infected and HIV-negative individuals. These results indicate that spontaneous apoptosis is associated with advanced disease. However, there was no evidence of in vivo switch from the Th1 to Th2 phenotype in HIV-infected patients.
