CD8(-INFECTION PRODUCE MACROPHAGE INFLAMMATORY PROTEIN-1-ALPHA AND RANTES - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY IN LONG-TERM SURVIVORS AND PROGRESSOR PATIENTS() CELLS IN HIV)

Evidence suggests that CD8(+) lymphocytes are involved in the control of Human Immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection by the releas e of HIV-suppressive factors. The human chemokines RANTES and the macr ophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha) have been identified to be potent inhibitors of HIV in vitro. The aim of this study was to determine whether high levels of these chemokines are associated with a delayed progression of HIV disease. We have therefore analysed the in vitro production of RANTES and MIP-1 alpha from purified stimulated CD8(+) cells from HIV+ long term survivors (LTS) and, as a comparison , from HIV+ patients with progressive disease. RANTES production was s imilar in LTS and progressors (14.06 +/- 3, 13.36 +/- 4.1 ng/ml, not s tatistically significant); the same cells from healthy controls show a RANTES production of 20 +/- 3.5 ng/ml (P = 0.034 versus LTS and P = 0 .038 versus progressors). MIP-la production was slightly reduced in LT S (96.8 +/- 12 ng/ml) and progressors (91.6 +/- 17, not statistically significant between the two groups) when compared to healthy controls (109 +/- 7 ng/ml, P = 0.03). Our study suggests that resistance to HIV -1 progression in LTS may not be associated with high levels of RANTES and MIP-1 alpha production.