Cytokine profiles in parotid saliva from HIV-1-infected individuals: changes associated with opportunistic infections in the oral cavity

The purpose of this study was to quantitate levels of cytokines in parotid saliva of subjects infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) and to determine if the cytokine profiles differ in subjects with an oral oppo rtunistic infection, i.e., candidiasis or oral hairy leukoplakia. Parotid s aliva samples were obtained from HIV-infected individuals with or without c andidiasis or oral hairy leukoplakia and from healthy controls and were ass essed by ELISA for levels of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, t ransforming growth factor-beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma. Saliva from HIV-infected subjects with oral candidiasis had si gnificantly higher levels of IFN-gamma than that seen in HIV-infected indiv iduals with no oral disease and significantly higher levels of IL-2, IL-5 a nd IFN-gamma than saliva of healthy controls. No significant difference was seen in cytokine levels in saliva from HIV-infected subjects with no oral infections and healthy controls. The HIV-infected subjects with oral hairy leukoplakia displayed significantly higher levels of both IL-1 alpha and IF N-gamma compared with the HIV and no oral disease group and a higher level of IFN-gamma than seen in saliva from the healthy control group. In compari ng cytokine levels from both HIV and oral disease groups, significant diffe rences were detected in levels of IL-5 and IL-10. These results indicate th at the profile of salivary cytokines is altered as a result of the oral opp ortunistic infection candidiasis or oral hairy leukoplakia and also by conc urrent HIV infection.