INCREASED SERUM AND MESSENGER-RNA LEVELS OF RANTES ASSOCIATED WITH ELEVATED LEVELS OF ACTIVATED CD8-CELLS IN HIV-1-INFECTED INDIVIDUALS(CD38+ T)

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 seron egative individuals. In contrast the serum levels of IL-16 were only s poradically elevated in seropositives as well as in seronegatives. Con comitantly, the RANTES gene expression increased about tenfold in sero positives, whereas the MIP-1 beta and IL-16 mRNA levels were not eleva ted. No correlation between the increase of the MIP-1 beta and RANTES serum concentrations and the plasma virus load, the number of the peri pheral CD4+ T cells or the therapy status of the patients was found. H owever, 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-infe cted individuals may contribute to increased RANTES serum levels.