Evaluation of cytokine levels in response to mitogen among HIV-1-infected blood cells and their relationships to the number of T cells. (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Imoto, Sahoko; Suzukawa, Maho; Takeda, Keita; Asari, Isao; Watanabe, Shizuka; Tohma, Shigeto; Nagase, Takahide; Ohta, Ken; Teruya, Katsuji; Nagai, Hideaki
• Is Part Of: Cytokine. Volume 153(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: Human immunodeficiency virus-1 -- QuantiFERON®-TB -- Mitogen response -- CD4+ T cells -- CD8+ T cells; (HIV-1) Human immunodeficiency virus-1 -- (TB) Tuberculosis -- (ART) Antiretroviral therapy -- (IFN) Interferon -- (TNF) Tumor necrosis factor -- (LTBI) Latent tuberculosis infection -- (IGRAs) IFN-γ release assays -- (QFT) QuantiFERON®-TB -- (Mit) Mitogen -- (IL-1RA) Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist -- (IP-10) IFN-γ-induced protein 10 -- (MCP-1) Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 -- (MIP-1β) Macrophage inflammatory protein-1β -- (PDGF) Platelet-derived growth factor -- (RANTES) Regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted; Cytokines -- Periodicals; 571.844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.155840
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-4666

Abstract

Highlights: We assessed the effect of HIV-1 infection and T cell count on cytokine production. Mitogen-induced IFN-γ from HIV-1 + cells correlated with CD4 + /CD8 + T cell count. Biomarkers independent of T cell count may be useful for immune-compromised hosts. Mitogen-induced cytokine synthesis is unique among HIV-1-infected blood cells. Abstract: Background: Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection causes loss and anergy of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, leading to opportunistic infections, including tuberculosis (TB). QuantiFERON®-TB (QFT) is used as a diagnostic tool to detect TB, but it exhibits limited accuracy among subjects with low CD4 + T cell numbers, including HIV-1-infected individuals. The present study aimed to determine the effect of HIV-1 infection and patients' blood T cell numbers on cytokine production in response to mitogen (Mit) stimulation. Methods: The number of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in HIV-1-infected individuals was quantified. Levels of various cytokines in Mit-stimulated and un-stimulated (Nil) supernatants of QFT gold "in tube" were assessed using a MAGPIX System. The correlation between cytokine levels and CD4 + /CD8 + T cell counts in response to Mit was analyzed. The cytokine levels were compared between HIV-1-infected and healthy subjects. Results: HIV-1-infected individuals (110) and control subjects (27) were enrolled. Interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), IL-6, IL-8, and regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) values in Mit-Nil tubes showed a significant correlation with CD4 + T cell counts, while IFN-γ, IL-6, and IFN-γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10) values in Mit-Nil tubes had significant correlation with CD8 + T cell counts. IL-1RA, IL-8, IP-10, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, and RANTES levels in Nil tubes were significantly higher in the HIV-1-infected group. IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IP-10, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β values in Mit-Nil tubes were significantly higher, and PDGF-BB and RANTES levels were significantly lower in the HIV-1-infected group. Conclusion: The functions of HIV-1-infected T cells and uninfected T cells, such as spontaneous and responsive cytokine production in response to Mit, were different. Our findings may be useful for developing new clinical tools for patients with low T cell counts. Additionally, the study provides new insights into the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection.