The effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy on the serum levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in HIV infected subjects

Abstract

BackgroundCytokines play an important role in controlling the homeostasis of the immune system and infection with Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to deregulated production of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. This study was designed to determine the effects of HIV and Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) on the levels of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in HIV infected subjects.MethodA total of 50 HIV infected and 50 HIV seronegative control participants were recruited for the study. The HIV infected subjects were recruited before commencement of antiretroviral therapy and were followed up for 12 months. Blood samples were collected at 3 different points: before initiation of therapy, 6 months into therapy and 12 months into therapy. Serum cytokines were analyzed using ELISA method while CD4+ T cells and viral load counts were measured using standard laboratory methods.ResultThe results showed that pro-inflammatory cytokines: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and anti-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-4 (IL-4), Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) were significantly elevated in HIV infected subjects before commencement of therapy compared to 6 months and 12 months into therapy (P < 0.01) and compared to control participants (P < 0.01). TNF-α, TGF-beta remained significantly elevated even after 12 months of therapy compared to control participants (P < 0.01), while IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 showed no significant difference compared to control participants after 12 months of therapy (P > 0.05). INF-γ was significantly reduced before commencement of therapy and after 12 months of therapy compared to control participants (P < 0.05) respectively.ConclusionTNF-α and TGF-β remained significantly elevated even after 12 months of therapy, while IFN-γ remained significantly reduced after 12 months of therapy. Regulating these cytokines which were unresponsive to therapy could serve as a potential measure of therapy for HIV infected subjects. The positive effect of 12 months therapy on IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 levels can be used to monitor disease prognosis during therapy especially in resource poor setting where regular viral load monitoring is unavailable.

Higher levels of TNF and IL‐4 cytokines and low miR‐182 expression in visceral leishmaniasis‐HIV co‐infected patients

“…One of these studies showed that upon Schistosoma mansoni infection, the IL‐4 cytokine upregulates miR‐182 expression Th2‐Treg cells, thereby suppressing IL‐2 secretion of the Th1 response . Another found the IL‐4 cytokine in significantly higher levels in HIV mono‐infected subjects . In the present study, there was no correlation between miR‐182 and cytokines.…”

Novel role of mortalin in attenuating HIV-1 Tat-mediated astrogliosis

“…The abnormally hyper activation of immune system has been widely reported in viral infection including HIV-1 and significantly correlated with the severity of the disease [ 40 , 41 ]. Previously, it has been shown that HIV-1 Tat induces the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules like IL-6 and IL-8 in both human monocytes and dendritic cells of HIV-1 patients [ 13 ].…”

An Inflammatory Story: Antibodies in Tuberculosis Comorbidities

“…Through the strong engagement of these particular Fc receptors in HIV infection, cells are activated resulting in downstream release of inflammatory cytokines and cytotoxic granules. A study looking at cytokines before pre-and post-ART (anti-retroviral therapy) in individuals with HIV-infection alone, found that TNF-α and IL-6 (pro-inflammatory) and IL-10, IL-4, and TGF-β (anti-inflammatory) were higher before ART while IFN-γ levels were lower before ART (208). In a different study of ARTnaive individuals co-infected with HIV/TB, Mtb culture-positive status correlated with high TNF-α, IL-2, IL-12, and also IFNγ (209).…”