J Infect Dis. 1997 Jan;175(1):47-56. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
Cytokine mRNA expression and stimulus-induced cytokines were examined in
peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 62 human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV)-infected children and uninfected controls. Compared with that in
controls, constitutive mRNA expression in patients was increased for
tumor necrosis factor TNF)-alpha, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and
interleukin (IL)-10 and decreased for IL-12; it was undetectable for
IL-2 and IL-4 in both patients and controls. Stimulus-induced secretion
of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-12, and IL-4 was less than that in controls;
IL-10 secretion was similar. There was no increase in stimulus-induced
or constitutive IL-4 or IL-10 in children with severe immunologic
deficit compared with controls. A higher stimulus-induced IL-10
secretion and a lower constitutive TNF-alpha mRNA were associated with a
slower rate of disease progression, and TNF-alpha mRNA expression
correlated with lower plasma HIV RNA. Thus, constitutive cytokine mRNA
expression differs from stimulus-induced cytokine responses. The
dominant defect in HIV-infected children appears to be one of reduced
type 1 cytokines, predominantly IL-2.
*Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/IMMUNOLOGY *Cytokines/BIOSYNTHESIS
*HIV Infections/IMMUNOLOGY