Intervirology · 1997 · 19 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesImmunologyInfectious DiseasesCellular ImmunologyClinical ImmunologyInflammationCellular Immunity In InfectionImmune Cell PhysiologyImmunodeficiency DisordersT Cell ActivationT Cell BiologyViral PathologyCd4 Positive T CellsCd8 Positive T CellsCd8 T Cell ActivationCellular Immune Response To VirusesHiv-associated ImmunosuppressionImmune Cell ActivationPeripheral Blood Lymphocyte AnalysisT-cell Immune Responses
The serum levels of the beta-chemokine RANTES and, albeit less, MIP-1 beta were found to be increased in 37 HIV-1 infected compared to seronegative individuals. In contrast the serum levels of IL-16 were only sporadically elevated in seropositives as well as in seronegatives. Concomitantly, the RANTES gene expression increased about tenfold in seropositives, whereas the MIP-1 beta and IL-16 mRNA levels were not elevated. No correlation between the increase of the MIP-1 beta and RANTES serum concentrations and the plasma virus load, the number of the peripheral CD4+ T cells or the therapy status of the patients was found. However, the increased proportion of activated CD8+CD38+ T cells in the peripheral blood of all seropositives paralleled the increased RANTES serum levels detected indicating that immune activation in HIV-1-infected individuals may contribute to increased RANTES serum levels.