Abstract
In HIV infection, the decrease in the number and functional activity of lymphocytes is accompanied by atopia and an increased level of total IgE and some specific IgE antibodies. This could be explained by the Th2 dominance induced by HIV replication and so a Thl-Th2 switch could have prognostic value. We investigated the characteristic T-helper phenotype dominance and its relationship to cytokine expression and IgE immune response in the early stage of asymptomatic HIV infection. In the separated lymphocytes ofi. asymptomatic HIV positive persons;ii. HIV negative homosexuals;iii. atopic patients; andiv. healthy controls, expression of mRNA for IFNγ (Th1) and IL-10 (Th2) were determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR. The serum level of antibodies for HIV 1/2 and total/specific IgE were also determined. Transcription of mRNA of IFNγ and IL-10 were more pronounced in HIV positive and atopic groups than in the healthy control, without lymphocyte phenotype dominance. In HIV negative persons, however, a significant Th2 dominance was detected. There was no significant difference in the IgE level between the 4 investigated groups. In the HIV positive cases, IL-10 expression and total serum IgE do not support a switch to Th2 dominance. In the atopic group, aside from the total IgE level, down regulation of IFNγ was not observed. These results suggest a general activation of the immune system in the early stage of HIV infection.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bansal AS, Pumphrey RS, Mandai BK et al: Serum measurements of soluble CD23 in HIV infection. Immunology 80:652- 653, 1993.
Barcellini W, Rizzardi GP, Borghi MO et al: Th1 and Th2 cytokine production by peripherial-blood-mononuclear-cells from HIV-infected patients. AIDS 8:757–762, 1994.
Carter LL, Dutton RW: Type 1 and Type 2: a fundamental dichotomy for all T-cell subsets. Curr Opin Immunol 8:336–342, 1996.
ChomczynskyP and Sacchi N: RNA isolation byacid guanidinum thyocyanate extraction. Anal Biochem 162:156–159, 1987.
Clerici M, ShearerM: A Th1 Th2 switch is a critical step in the etiology of HIV infection. Immunol Today 14:107–111, 1993.
Del Prete G: Human Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes: their role in the pathophysiology of atopy. Allergy 47:450–455, 1992.
Del Prete G, Maggi E, Pizzolo G, Romagnani R: CD30, Th2 cytokines and HIV infection: a complex and fascinating link. Immunol Today 16:76–80, 1995.
Dikeacou T, Katsambas A, LöwensteinW et al: Clinical manifestations of allergy and their relation to HIV infection. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 102:408–413, 1993.
Ellaurie M, Rubinstein A, Rosenstreich DL: IgE levels in pediatric HIV infection. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 75:332–336, 1995.
Estaquier J, Idziorek T,ZouWet al: T helper type 1/T helper type 2 cytokines and T cell death: preventive effect of interleukin-12 on activation-induced and CD95 (FAS/APO-1)-mediated apoptosis of CD4+ T cells from human immunodeficiency virus- infected persons. J Exp Med 182:1759–1767, 1995.
Ferrazzi M, De Rinaldis ML, Salotti A et al: Serum IgE levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-l infected patients: correlation between IgE and CD4+ cells. Riv Eur Sci Med Farmacol 15:67–70, 1993.
Graziosi C, Pantaleo P, Gantt KR et al: Lack of evidence for the dichotomy of Thl and Th2 predominance in HIV-infected individuals. Science 265:248–252, 1994.
Hashimoto S, Amemiya E, TomitaY et al: Elevation of soluble IL-2 receptor and IL-4, and nonelevation of IFNγ-gammain sera from patients with allergic-asthma. Ann Allergy 71:455- 458, 1993.
HorváthA: Total and specific IgE in sera of HIV positive and HIV negative homosexual male (Regulation of IgE synthesis in HIV infection). Acta Biomed 63:133–145, 1992.
Jason J, Sleeper LA, Donfield SMet al: Evidence for shift from Type I Lymphocyte Pattern with HIV Disease Progression. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 10:471–476, 1995.
Koutsonikolis A, Nelson RP, Fernandez-CaldasEet al: Serum total and specific IgE levels in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus. J Allergy Clin Immunol 97:692–697, 1996.
Maggi E, Giudizi MG, BiagiottiR et al: Th2-like CD8+ T cells Showing B cell helper function and reduced cytolytic activity in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. J Exp Med 180:489–495, 1994.
Maggi E, Mazetti M, RavinaA et al: Ability of HIV to promote a Th1 to Th2 shift and to replicate preferencially in Th2 and Th0 cells. Science 265:244–248, 1994.
Magnan A, VervloetD: AIDS: a model for the study of atopy? Rev Mal Respir 12:177–183, 1995.
Mazza DS, O’ SullivanM, Grieco MH: HIV-1 infection complicated by food allergy and allergic gastroenteritis. A case report. Annals of Allergy 66:436–440, 1991.
Meyaard L, Otto SA, Keet IP et al: Changes in cytokine secretion pattern of CD4+- T cells clones in activity in human immunodeficiency virus infection. Blood 84:4262–4268, 1994.
Mosmann TR, Chevwinski H, Bond MW et al: Two types of murine helper T cell clone. I. Definition according to profiles of lymphokine activities and secreted proteins. J Immunol 136:2348–2357, 1986.
Mosmann TR, SadS: The expanding universe of T-cell subsets: Th1, Th2 and more. Immun Today 17:138–146, 1996.
Pene J, Rivier A, LagierB et al: Differences in IL-4 release by PBMC are related with heterogeneity of atopy. Immunology 81:58–64, 1994.
Romagnani S, Maggi E, Del Prete G: An alternative view of the Th1/Th2 switch hypothesis in HIV infection. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 10:3–9,1994.
Romagnani S, MaggiE: Th1 versus Th2 responses in AIDS. Curr Opin Immunol 6:616–622, 1994.
Sample S, Chernoff DN, Lenahan et al: Elevated serum concentration of IgE antibodies to enviromental antigens in HIV- seropositive male homosexuals. J Allergy Clin Immunol 86:876–880, 1990.
Vigano A, Principi N, CrupiL et al: Elevation of IgE in HIV- infected children and its correlation with the progression of dis ease. J Allergy Clin Immunol 95:627–632, 1995.