The Role of IL-27 and its Receptor in the Pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS and Anti-viral Immune Response

Title:The Role of IL-27 and its Receptor in the Pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS and Anti-viral Immune Response

Volume: 15 Issue: 4

Author(s): Yu-huang Zheng*, Shui-ling Xiao, Bo He, Yan He, Hua-ying Zhou, Zi Chen, Li-wen Zheng, Mei He, Hong-yan Wang, Yi-he Lin and Jing Cao

Affiliation:

• Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Xiang-Ya Hospital, Central South University, 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan 410011,China

Keywords: IL-27, gp130/CD4, HIV/AIDS, HAART, IL-4, IFN-γ.

Abstract: Background: Cytokines have been widely demonstrated to involve in the pathogenesis of AIDS and the mechanisms of antiretroviral therapy. Interleukin 27 (IL-27) is a new member of the IL-12 cytokine family and has been shown to interfere HIV-1 virus replication with controversial findings. This study is to investigate the dynamic changes in plasma IL-27 level and cell surface IL-27 receptor expression in HIV/AIDS patients who underwent HAART.

Methods: Whole blood was collected from 34 HIV-positive/AIDS patients 0, 6, and 12 months after initiation of HAART and 27 healthy subjects. Plasma IL-27, IFN-γ, and IL-4 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while peripheral blood CD3⁺CD4⁺ T cells count and the gp130 expressed CD3⁺CD4⁺cell were measured by flow cytometry.

Results: The plasma IL-27 concentration, IFN-γ concentration, and percentage of positive gp130 CD4 cells were significantly decreased in previously treatment-naive HIV/AIDS patients compared to healthy controls, but gradually increased 6 and 12 months after initiation of HAART. Conversely, IL-4 levels were significantly increased in treatment-naive HIV/AIDS patients compared to healthy controls, but gradually decreased 6 and 12 months after HAART. The concentrations of plasma IL-27 were positively correlated with the percentage of gp130 positive CD4 cells (r=0.438, p=0.016). Both plasma IL-27 concentration and gp130 positive cell percentage were positively associated with peripheral blood CD3⁺CD4⁺ T cell count (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but negatively associated with plasma HIV viral load (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

Conclusion: IL-27 signaling (IL-27 and its receptor) may be involved in the pathogenesis of HIV infection and immune reconstitution in HIV/AIDS patients who underwent HAART. IL-27 may exert effects through regulating Th1 / Th2 ratio.

Cite this article as:

Zheng Yu-huang *, Xiao Shui-ling, He Bo, He Yan, Zhou Hua-ying, Chen Zi , Zheng Li-wen , He Mei , Wang Hong-yan, Lin Yi-he and Cao Jing, The Role of IL-27 and its Receptor in the Pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS and Anti-viral Immune Response, Current HIV Research 2017; 15 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570162X15666170517130339

DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570162X15666170517130339	Print ISSN 1570-162X
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 1873-4251