Abstract
Evidence has been presented for the involvement of various cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Since measured plasma levels may poorly reflect in vivo production of cytokines, we adopted in situ hybridization with cDNA oligonucleotide probes to enumerate blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) expressing mRNA for IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and perforin. The HIV-infected patients had elevated levels of MNCs expressing mRNA for all four cytokines compared to healthy controls. Numbers of IL-6 mRNA-expressing cells were higher in patients with clinical AIDS than in asymptomatic seropositive patients, and correlated inversely with CD4+ cell counts in blood, reflecting the involvement of IL-6 in later stages of HIV infection. The described approach could be an alternative way to study cytokines in HIV infection.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / blood
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Adult
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Cytokines / biosynthesis*
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Cytokines / genetics
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DNA, Complementary / analysis
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Female
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HIV Infections / blood*
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HIV Infections / immunology
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HIV Seropositivity / blood
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HIV-1*
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Humans
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In Situ Hybridization
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Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis
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Interleukin-10 / genetics
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Interleukin-6 / biosynthesis
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Interleukin-6 / genetics
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism*
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Male
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Membrane Glycoproteins / biosynthesis*
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Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
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Middle Aged
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Oligonucleotide Probes
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Perforin
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Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
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RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis*
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
Substances
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Cytokines
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DNA, Complementary
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Interleukin-6
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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Oligonucleotide Probes
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Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
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Perforin
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Interleukin-10