Elevated plasma levels of 90K (Mac-2 BP) immunostimulatory glycoprotein inHIV-1-infected children

90K is a secreted serum glycoprotein with immune stimulatory activity. In t his study, 90K plasma levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorb ent assay in 18 HIV-1-infected children and 10 uninfected control children. 90K levels in HIV-1-infected children (median, 12.5 mu g/ml) were higher t han in HIV-1 uninfected control group (6.3 mu g/ml; P < 0.05). 90K levels o f HIV-1-infected children classified as stage B and C (median, 15.0 mu g/ml and 22.7 mu g/ml, respectively) were higher compared to children with stag e A disease (median, 7.0 mu g/ml; P < 0.05). A positive correlation (r = 0. 5; P < 0.05) was found between 90K levels and HIV-1 RNA levels in 137 plasm a samples of 18 HIV-1-infected children collected during a period of 1 year . No correlation was found between 90K levels and CD4 cell counts. These re sults suggest that 90K plasma levels may represent a novel marker of diseas e progression in HIV-1-infected children.