AEGiS-15IAC: The serum level of the decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) is associated with HIV-1 subtype and AIDS disease progression.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

The serum level of the decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) is associated with HIV-1 subtype and AIDS disease progression.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. MoOrA1044)

Lin YT, Hsieh SL, Chen YJ, Lai SF, Chen YM
Institude of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

BACKGROUND: Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), a member of the TNF receptor superfamily, is a decoy receptor for FasL and LIGHT. Because of lacking a transmembrane domain, DcR3 can be secreted from the cells. DcR3 can neutralize the biological effects of FasL and LIGHT and inhibit the cells undergo apoptosis. In addition, it can inactivate the phagocytosis function of macrophage and repress the maturation of dendritic cells. Previously, lymphomas caused by EBV or HTLV-I were found to have high copies of DcR3 mRNA. Infection by HIV-1 is marked by the progressive depletion of CD4+ T lymphocytes. We hypothesized that DcR3 may confer growth advantage on infected cells by blocking cell apoptosis. Therefore, the goal of this study was to investigate the association of the serum level of DcR3 and the AIDS disease progression.

METHODS: 61 patients were selected from our HIV-1/AIDS patients cohort. The patients had been followed up at least 2 years with 8-10 time points of serum collection. HIV-1 subtypes were determined by PCR and DNA sequencing of HIV-1 gag and env genes. An EIA test was developed to quantify the serum level of DcR3.

RESULTS: The results showed that serum level of DcR3 in patients infected with subtype B (mean, 13.11±1.08 ng/ml) were significantly higher than that in patients infected with CRF01_A/E (mean, 2.34±0.54 ng/ml, p<0.0001). Moreover, serum level of DcR3 in slow AIDS disease progressor was significantly higher than that in medium and fast AIDS disease progressor (p<0.0001). After adjusting demographic data and clinical viral markers, serum level of DcR3 in patients infected with subtype B was higher than that in patients infected with CRF01_A/E (GEE model, p=0.0002). Conclusion Serum level of DcR3 was associated with HIV-1 subtypes and AIDS disease progression. The role of DcR3 plays in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection need to be elucidated in the future.

Keywords: AEGIS, Receptors, Cell Surface, Membrane Glycoproteins, Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Dendritic Cells, Serum, Apoptosis, Genes, env, RNA, Messenger, Genes, gag, decoy receptor 3, FasL protein, Humans, genetics, diagnosis

040711
MoOrA1044