Changes in the levels of some acute-phase proteins in human immunodeficiency virus-1 infected patients, following interleukin-2 treatment

Abstract

SummaryIntermittent interleukin (IL)-2 administration to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infected patients is well documented and generally used, but there is limited information about the changes of acute-phase protein (APP) levels in response to this treatment. Fifteen patients undergoing highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) treatment, with undetectable viral load, but low CD4+ cell count (<300/ml), have been treated with 3·6 M IU Proleukine® administered twice daily by subcutaneous injection over 5 days. C-reactive protein (CRP), d-dimer, C3, C9, C1-inh and alpha-2HS glycoprotein levels were measured immediately before IL-2 administration, as well as on day 5 and 2-3 weeks thereafter. After IL-2 administration, both mean d-dimer and CRP levels increased significantly (P < 0·001), but returned (P < 0·001) to baseline within the subsequent 2-3 weeks. Alpha-2HS glycoprotein decreased immediately after IL-2 administration. No significant differences were detected in the levels of C3, C9 and C1-inh. A significant, positive correlation (r = 0·5178, P = 0·0008) was ascertained between the changes of CRP level, measured immediately before as well as 5 days after IL-2 administration, and changes in CD4 T cell counts measured 2-3 weeks before and after treatment, respectively. IL-2 administration induces rapid elevation of two major APPs (CRP, d-dimer). The positive correlation observed between the changes of CRP levels and CD4+ cell counts after IL-2 administration may indicate that the abrupt, but transitory overproduction of CRP might contribute to the CD4 + cell count-increasing effect of the drug and/ or may be associated with serious side effects.

Monitoring acute phase proteins in retrovirus infected cats undergoing feline interferon‐ω therapy

“…In humans, it has been described that the administration of IL‐2 in HIV patients induced an increase of CRP, which was positively correlated to an increase of CD4+ cell count (Barbai et al . ). These findings reported a possible involvement of CRP in the IL2‐induced immune stimulation (Barbai et al .…”

“…, Barbai et al . ), animals acted as their own controls and the time point before therapy (D0) was considered the baseline value for each cat. Subsequently, it was possible to study the individual trends during therapy.…”

“…), even after immunomodulation therapy with exogenous IL‐2 (Barbai et al . ). Despite the similarity between HIV and FIV (Hosie et al .…”

Soluble mediators of inflammation in HIV and their implications for therapeutics and vaccine development

“…There were also two studies published at the same time as and shortly after the release of the SILCAAT/ESPRIT study results that supported another hypothesis for the failure of the studies. Porter et al and Barbai et al both demonstrated that IL-2 cycling results in increases in acute-phase proteins, specifically C-reactive protein (CRP) [115, 116]. CRP typically increases in the blood in response to inflammation and is associated with increased cardiovascular disease.…”

The Use of Recombinant Feline Interferon Omega Therapy as an Immune-Modulator in Cats Naturally Infected with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus: New Perspectives

“…In further studies, the influence of rFeIFN-ω in the acute phase reaction was investigated [ 28 ]. In human medicine, several studies have described its increase in HIV-positive patients [ 29 , 30 ], even after immunomodulation therapy with exogenous IL-2 [ 31 ]. Despite the similarity between HIV and FIV [ 2 , 32 ], the CRP behavior in FIV-positive cats undergoing immune-modulation therapy remains unknown.…”