Stability of plasma levels of cytokines and soluble activation markers in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Cytokine and immune activation marker levels in plasma are valuable measure ments of immune status and treatment effects in human immunodeficiency viru s (HIV) infection and AIDS. Five populations representing various stages of disease were studied: controls, 2 AIDS groups with <50/mm(3) CD4 cells, an d 2 groups of HIV-positive subjects-1 with stable CD4 T cells (median, 545/ mm(3)) and 1 with >100/mm(3) CD4 cell decline in 1 year. Relatively stable levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, soluble TNF receptor (R)II sol uble interleukin-2R, neopterin, and beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)M) were d ocumented over 5-8 weeks in patients with AIDS and for 1-4 years in the oth er groups. beta(2)M was generally the most stable marker. Interferon-gamma levels, however, fluctuated substantially. Individuals, whether normal or H IV-positive, maintain characteristic plasma levels of cytokines and immune activation markers. Thus, documented changes, in excess of the variability observed in this study, are likely to be significant indicators of change i n disease status or effects of therapy.