Study of TH1/TH2 Cytokine Profiles in HIV/AIDS Patients in a TertiaryCare Hospital in India

Background and Objectives: Switch of cytokines from a T helper 1 (Th1) to a Th2 is an important factor in the progression of HIV infection to AIDS. Hence, our objectives were to analyze the levels of Th1 (IL-2, IFN-γ) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) cytokines and their correlation with clinical and immunological profiles in HIV/AIDS patients. Methods: We studied 234 symptomatic HIV positive patients (case group) attending OPDs, ART clinic and medical wards of the Hospital. CD4+T-cell count was determined by flow cytometry using Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorter Count system. Quantitative determination of cytokines (Th1 subtype: IL-2, IFN-γ and Th2 subtype: IL-4, IL-10) was done by ELISA. Results: Patients (08-68 years) had CD4+T-cell counts ranged from 16-1033 cells/μl. The median CD4+T cell count was 204.50 cells/μl and the mean was 265.48 cells/μl. The concentration of IL-2 and IFN-γ were significantly lower in case group compared to asymptomatic HIV patients (P<0.001) while the IL-4 in symptomatic HIV negative was higher than healthy controls and case group compared to asymptomatic HIV patients. Concentration of IL-10 was also higher in case group compared to asymptomatic HIV patients. A positive correlation was found between IL-4, IFN-γ, IL-2 with CD4+T-cells and a negative correlation between IL-10 and CD4+T-cells among the case group. Conclusions: Hence a decline in type-1 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2) and rise in type-2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) was observed in symptomatic patients with HIV infection in comparison to asymptomatic HIV patients suggesting a shift from Th1 to Th2 type cytokine response.