Cytokine gene expression and T-cell proliferative responses in lymph node mononuclear cells from children with early stage human immunodeficiency virus infection

Background and Objectives. The immunologic events taking place in secondary lymphoid tissue from children with early stage human immunodeficiency viru s (HIV) Infection are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to inves tigate cytokine gene expression and proliferative responses in lymph node ( LN) biopsies from five children with early stage HN infection, In the conte xt of LN morphology and viral road. Design and Methods. The design of the study was approved by the local Ethic al Committee. Cytokine gene expression was studied in LN biopsies and in pa ired peripheral brood (PB) samples from HIV-infected children by reverse tr anscriptase-polymerase chain reaction. T-cell proliferation was assessed by H-3-thymidine incorporation. Viral burden in germinal centers was assessed by video densitometric analysis following immunohistochemical staining for HN p24. Results. Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA were not detected in any LN or PB sample from HIV-infected children. Interferon (IFN)-gamma mRNA was f ound only in CD8(+) cells. IL-12 p35, IL-10, transforming growth factor-(TG F)-beta1, regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RAN TES), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1 alpha. MIP-1 beta and IL-16 t ranscripts were detected In all samples. Proliferation of LN and PB mononuc lear cells to polyclonal mitogens and soluble (recall and HIV-related) anti gens was impaired as compared with the responses in a group of age-matched healthy controls. Interpretation and Conclusions. Changes in cytokine gene expression and T-c ell proliferative responses are already detectable in lymph nodes from HIV- infected children at an early stage of disease. (C) 2000. Ferrata Storti Fo undation.