Expression of regeneration and tolerance factor correlates directly with human immunodeficiency virus infection and inversely with hepatitis C virus infection.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cause two of the most prevalent debilitating viral infections. HIV appears to induce a skewing toward a Th2 response, while in HCV infection a Th1 response appears to dominate. Regeneration and tolerance factor (RTF) may participate in driving or sustaining a Th2 cytokine response. The expression of RTF on CD3(+) T cells of HIV-seropositive (HIV(+)) individuals is increased. The purpose of this study was to compare the expression of RTF during HIV infections with that during HCV infections. Three-color flow-cytometric analysis of peripheral blood collected from HIV(+) HCV-seropositive (HCV(+)), HIV- and HCV-seropositive (HIV(+) HCV(+)), and HIV- and HCV-seronegative (HIV(-) HCV(-)) individuals was performed. Levels of RTF expression on T-lymphocyte subsets from these groups were compared, as were levels of RTF expression on activated T cells expressing CD38 and HLA-DR, to determine the relationship of RTF expression to these infections. We demonstrated that the expression of RTF on surfaces of T cells from HIV(+) individuals is upregulated and that its expression on T cells from HCV(+) individuals is downregulated. A twofold increase in the mean channel fluorescence of RTF on CD3(+) T cells was seen in both HIV(+) and HIV(+) HCV(+) individuals compared to HIV(-) HCV(-) individuals. HCV(+) individuals had lower levels of RTF expression than HIV(-) HCV(-) individuals (P < 0.005 for CD4(+); P < 0.0005 for CD8(+)). In terms of percentages of T cells expressing RTF, the groups were ranked as follows: HIV(+) > HIV(+) HCV(+) > HIV(-) HCV(-) > HCV(+). The results indicate that RTF expression correlates with HIV-associated immune activation and may be associated with Th2-type responses.

• Authors: C C Sung, J S Boomer, T S Givens, B K DuChateau, M R Lepe, A Feller, M P Westerman, A Gilman-Sachs, A Chedid, K D Beaman
• Journal: Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology (Clin Diagn Lab Immunol) Vol. 7 Issue 2 Pg. 200-5 (Mar 2000) ISSN: 1071-412X [Print] United States
• PMID: 10702493 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD
• Antigens, Differentiation
• CD3 Complex
• HLA-DR Antigens
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Pregnancy Proteins
• Regeneration and tolerance factor, human
• Suppressor Factors, Immunologic
• ADP-ribosyl Cyclase
• CD38 protein, human
• Cd38 protein, mouse
• NAD+ Nucleosidase
• ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1

Topics

• ADP-ribosyl Cyclase
• ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1
• Animals
• Antigens, CD
• Antigens, Differentiation (immunology)
• CD3 Complex (immunology)
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Female
• HIV Infections (blood, immunology)
• HLA-DR Antigens (immunology)
• Hepatitis C (blood, immunology)
• Humans
• Lymphocyte Activation (immunology)
• Male
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• NAD+ Nucleosidase (immunology)
• Pregnancy Proteins (biosynthesis, immunology)
• Suppressor Factors, Immunologic (biosynthesis, immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology)