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.
