Inflammation in HIV Positive Non Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients

Abstract

Background: HIV-1 infection is associated with dysregulation of cytokine production and this is thought to contribute to HIV associated immune deficiency. The dysregulation of cytokine production may be playing a role in the pathogenesis of HIV+ NHL, as evidenced by increased prevalence of NHL in HIV-1 infection. This study aimed to determine the serum concentrations of circulating inflammatory cytokines and the effect of cART in HIV positive NHL patients.Methods: The serum concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, and TNF-α were determined by mesoscale discovery (MSD) assay in 141 subjects that were divided into 5 groups: naive HIV+ ; cART treated HIV+ ; HIV negative NHL; HIV+ NHL and healthy controls.Results: HIV+ NHL patients had higher serum concentrations of IL-4 as compared to NHL and HIV+ cART patients. As compared to NHL patients, the serum concentrations of IL-2, and TNF-α were significantly higher in HIV+ NHL patients, while those of IL-1β were significantly lower. HIV+ NHL patients had higher serum concentrations of IFN-γ, and IL-6; and lower serum concentrations of IL-12p70 than HIV+ cART patients. All the inflammatory cytokines were significantly increased in NHL as compared to the controls, as well as in cART-naïve HIV+ patients as compared to HIV+ cART and controls. Conclusion:The serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines are increased in HIV positive NHL patients. This suggests that chronic inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of lymphoma.