Features of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the blood of HIV-positive children

Abstract

This article describes the results of the study and the characteristics of the cytokines IL-4, IL-18, IFN-γ and TNF-α in the blood plasma of HIV-positive and HIV-negative children. The study design was a cross-sectional study in which blood samples were collected from study subjects during ART. Cytokines IL-4, IL-18, TNF- α and INF-γ were determined using an ELISA kit (Vector Best, Russian Federation). The results showed the concentration of IFN- gamma, a regulator of the humoral immune response, in the group of patients with HIV infection was statistically significantly higher than in the control group (p=0.00001). On the contrary, the concentration of another regulator of the humoral immune response, IL-4, differs slightly in the main and control groups (p=0.1425). The content of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha in the HIV-positive group was significantly higher than in the HIV-negative group (p=0.00001). Also, the concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-18 was significantly higher in the main group than in the control group (p=0.0002). Although cytokine profiles during antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV (PLHIV) have been documented, no clearly defined pattern of effects of antiretroviral therapy on cytokine profiles has been identified.