Flow cytometric detection of intracellular cytokines in peripheral blood of HIV-1 infected Thai children

The objective of this study was to determine changes in Th1/Th2 cytokine pr oduction at the cellular level which occur during the progression of HIV-1 subtype E infection in Thai children born to HIV-1 subtype E infected mothe rs. Mitogen stimulated whole blood cultures from 12 uninfected and 27 HIV-1 subtype E infected Thai children were stained Intracellularly with fluores cein labelled monoclonal antibodies against Interleukin (IL)-2 and IFN-gamm a (Th1 cytokines) and IL-4 (Th2 cytokine). Additionally, co-staining of CD4 (+) and CD8(+) T cells was performed. Results were analyzed by two and thre e color flow cytometry. The percentage of IFN-gamma expressing cells In CD4 (+) T cells was increased in HIV-1 subtype E infected Thai children with mi ld and moderate immunosuppression (immunological categories 1 + 2, Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) staging system, 1994). The percen tages of IFN-gamma expression was continuously enhanced accompanied by rema ining preserved in the proportion of IL-2 producing T cells in HIV-1 subtyp e E infected Thai children with severe immunosuppression (immunological cat egory 3, CDC staging system, 1994). The percentages of IFN-gamma expression was continuously augmented whereas the proportion of IL-2 producing T cell s remained unchanged in HIV-1 subtype E infected Thai Children with severe immunosuppression (immunological category 3, CDC staging system, 1994). The percentage of Th2 cytokine producing cells within the CD4(+) ad CD8(+) T c ells increased in HIV-1 subtype E Infected individuals and showed a signifi cant difference in HIV-1 subtype E infected Thai children with AIDS compare d with uninfected infants. These results suggest that in vertically acquire d HIV-1 Infection with severe immunosuppression, the percentages of IL-2 pr oducing CD4(+) T cell was consistent but the percentages of IL-4 and IFN-ga mma producing cell were increased. Similar results were found for CD8(+) T cells in which IL-4 producing cells were increased in conjunction with a re maining in the number of IL-2 producing cells in HIV-1 subtype E infected T hai children. Thus, changes in the Th1 and Th2 cytokine pattern during HIV- 1 infection may contribute to the prognosis of HIV disease in children.