PREPONDERANCE EFFECT OF TH1 CYTOKINES IN HIV PATIENTS UNDERGOING HAART

Infection with HIV results in discordant immunological response characterized by dysregualtion of cytokines and adecrease in CD4+ T cells. As HIV progresses to AIDS, there is a switch in Th1 to Th2 cytokines. In this study, plasmacytokine levels were compared between newly diagnosed HIV-positive HAART naïve patients and HAART undergoingpatients. Additionally, the association between plasma cytokine levels and CD4+ T cell count was examined. 160 HIVpositiveindividuals were enrolled for the study, of which 80 were HAART naïve and 80 were undergoing HAART forover six months since diagnosis. The plasma cytokine levels of IFN Ɣ, IL 2, IL 4 and IL 10 were analysed using ELISAand CD4+ T cell counts were assessed using flow cytometry. Comparing the HAART naïve patients to HAARTundergoing group, the plasma cytokine concentrations of IL 4 and IL 10 was considerably higher in HAART naïvepatients while IFN Ɣ and IL 2 concentration was greater in HAART undergoing patients. Similarly, while examining therelationship between CD4+ T cells and plasma cytokine levels, it was discovered that IFN Ɣ significantly correlated withCD4+ T cells in HAART-naive individuals as opposed to IL 2, IL 4, and IL 10. Therefore, an increase in Th1 cytokinesover Th2 cytokines and the restoration of immune response are indicators of successful anti-retroviral therapy