Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Levels in Patients with HIV with Wasting in South Asia

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is thought to play an important role in wasting; but TNF-alpha levels have not been consistently found to be high in AIDS wasting. We conducted this study to determine any correlation between TNF-alpha levels and wasting in HIV-positive patients in a developing country. TNF-alpha levels were measured in four groups of patients: Group 1, HIV/AIDS with wasting (n = 25); group 2, HIV/AIDS without wasting (n = 47); group 3, HIV-negative patients with tuberculosis with wasting (n = 25); and group 4, healthy controls (n = 25). Wasting was defined as a body bass index (BMI) </=16.0 kg/m(2). TNF-alpha was measured by a solid-phase sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The mean BMI in HIV-positive patients with wasting (group 1) and without wasting (group 2) was 15.192 +/- 1.142 and 19.507 +/- 2.457, respectively, while group 3 and 4 had a BMI of 14.878 +/- 3.234 and 21.862 +/- 2.763 kg/m(2). The mean TNF-alpha level in group 1 was 50.864 +/- 99.13 pg/mL and 43.39 +/- 66.372 pg/mL in group 2. There was no significant difference between the two groups. TNF-alpha was significantly higher in the HIV/AIDS groups (group 1 and 2) compared to the tuberculosis group (10.74 +/- 7.854) and healthy controls (5.846 +/- 3.40) at p = 0.01. TNF-alpha was significantly (p = 0.002) higher in symptomatic patients compared to asymptomatic patients (16.03 +/- 7.61 versus 64.70 +/- 98.70). In conclusion, TNF-alpha levels were higher in HIV patients, regardless of the presence of wasting, compared to normal healthy controls of patients with tuberculosis with wasting.

Aging and Infectious Diseases: Workshop on HIV Infection and Aging: What Is Known and Future Research Directions

“…Levels of C-reactive protein, D-dimer, factor VIIII, fibrinogen, and IL-6 are elevated in older people with the frailty phenotype [105–107], and these increased levels are associated with frailty intermediates (e.g., wasting) in HIV-infected adults [108, 109]. Likewise, HIV infection and drug toxicities activate frailty-associated inflammatory pathways [110, 111].…”

Is HIV infection a TNF receptor signalling-driven disease?

“…HIV proteins favour immune suppression through the enhancement of TNFR signalling in the late stages of disease In late stages of the disease, high levels of TNF are produced, resulting in dramatic TNF-mediated death of uninfected T cells and subsequent major immune suppression [5,31]. HIV proteins, such as gp120 and Vpu, might further participate in immune failure by enhancing the cytopathic effects mediated through TNFR signalling.…”

Moderate-Intensity Exercise Improves Body Composition and Improves Physiological Markers of Stress in HIV-Infected Men

“…However, IL-6 may also exhibit anti-inflammatory functions, as it can inhibit TNF- α and IL-1- β [28]. TNF- α has been associated with muscle wasting in many diseased populations [29–31] including HIV-1 [32] and HIV-infected persons have been shown to have elevated TNF- α levels [33, 34]. …”