BETA-2-MICROGLOBULIN, NEOPTERIN AND MONOCYTE FC-GAMMA RECEPTORS IN OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS OF HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS

The aim of this study was to examine serum and cellular markers of imm une activation in HIV-positive (HIV+) patients with and without curren t opportunistic infections. Fc gamma receptor (Fc gamma R) expression on monocytes, serum neopterin and beta-2-microglobulin were studied. T hirty HIV+ patients (grouped according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classification) were studied and compared with 27 normal blood d onor controls. HIV+ patients were further separated into three groups: 2 (CDCII), 3 (CDC III/IV without infections) and 4 (CDC III/IV with c urrent infections). Eleven of the patients had current opportunistic i nfections. Results indicate that beta-microglobulin, neopterin, Fc gam ma RI, Fc gamma RII and Fc gamma III were significantly increased in H IV+ patients compared to controls. Further analysis of the data using Tukey-Kramer all pairwise comparison revealed that for beta-2-microglo bulin the mean values for patients in groups 2, 3 and 4 were significa ntly different (P < 0.0001). Serum neopterin levels and the percentage of CD14+ monocytes expressing Fc gamma RIII showed significant differ ences in the mean values of group 2 and group 4; similarly, for CD4+ l ymphocyte counts group 2 and group 4 were significantly different. The se results indicated that beta-2-microglobulin, neopterin and CD14+ mo nocyte Fc gamma RIII are increased particularly in HIV+ patients with current opportunistic infections while CD4+ lymphocyte counts are redu ced. The results suggest that these markers, particularly beta-2-micro globulin, could be useful indicators of the inflammatory process assoc iated with opportunistic infection at later stages of disease where ot her laboratory markers may be atypical.