Soluble CD26 and CD30 Plasma Levels in HIV Infected Patients with and Without GB Virus Type C Coinfection

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study subjects: Study subjects were patients being seen at the Iranian Blood Transfusion (IBTO) and Infectious Disease Department of Imam Khomeini Medical Complex during July and October 2006 in Tehran. The study was carried out in a group of 17 HIV infected subjects (2 women and 15 men) aged 29-54 (mean age 36.8 years), with no HBV and HVC infection sign who were at various stage of HIV infection, ranging from asymptomatic to those fitting the CDC case definition of AIDS, majority of them were IV drug abuser. HIV serology was determined by ELISA and confirmed by western blot in the research centre laboratory at Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO). CD4+ lymphocyte counts of patients ranged from 123 to 754 μL^-1. The patients were stratified on the basis of the CD4+ lymphocyte counts: Patients with absolute CD4 count < 200 μL^-1 of whole blood (7 patients) and patients with CD4 count ≤200 μL^-1 (10 patients). Six HIV infected subjects were positive for GBV-C RNA, 2 of them had CD4 count < 200 μL^-1 of whole blood. Plasma from 13 age and sex matched HIV uninfected healthy individuals served as controls. All controls plasma were also negative for HCV antibody and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBS-Ag). After acquisition of informed consent blood samples were obtained from all these individuals and separated plasma were stored at -20°C until use.

Laboratory procedures

Lymphocyte subpopulations: The CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts were obtained for the subject samples by CD3/CD4+ and CD3/CD8+ double staining of lysed whole blood followed by flow cytometric analysis after gating on the lymphocyte population.

Detection of GBV-C: Plasma GBV-C RNA was detected by in –house Reverse-Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR): Total RNA extracted from 250 μL of EDTA -anticoagulant plasma with TRIzol LS reagent, followed by organic extraction with chloroform, precipitate with isopropanol-ethanol. Five microliter RNA extract was add to RT mix containing of dnTP, random hexamer primer, Rnase inhibitor and murin leukaemia virus reveres transcriptase. CDNA synthesis was performed at 40°C for 40 min. After RT, CDNA was add to PCR mix containing of Taq polymerase, nucleotides mix and primer pairs located in the NS5a region of the viral genome (Forward: 5'-TAAGAGAAGGTTAAGATTCC-3' and Reveres: 5'- CAAGAGAGAACATTGAAGG-3') or primer pairs located in the NCR region of the viral genome reported previously (Kupfer et al., 2005). Amplification was performed at 95 for 5 min, then 45 cycles of 94°C for 45 sec, 55°C for 45 sec, 72°C for 45 sec with final extension step of 5 min at 72°C. The amplicons were detected by gel electrophoresis on an ethidium bromide-stained 2% agarose gel under UV light. A plasmid containing GBV-C cloned sequences (Biodiversity Italy) used as positive control. Positive cases were reconfirmed by GBV-C detection kit (Roche Germany) according to the manufacturer’s instruction. Briefly, the PCR products were labeled with digoxigenin during the amplification process. The labelled PCR products were analyzed by solution hybridization to a specific capture probe that was complimentary to the inner part of the amplification product. This capture probe was biotinylated to allow immobilization of the hybrid to a streptavidin-coated micro plate surface. The bound hybrid was detected by an anti-digoxigenin-proxidase conjugate and by use of colorimetric substrate.

Determination of plasma sCD26 levels: Plasma levels of sCD26 were measured by ELISA (Chemicon International, USA) a sandwich type immunoassay which can be used to measure sCD26 in plasma. Briefly, this assay utilizes an anti-CD26 monoclonal antibody coated to polystyrene microtiter wells. After addition of samples, or standards and rinsing, a biotinylated second monoclonal CD26 antibody was added and allowed to bind to sCD26, captured by the coating antibody. After rinsing, horseradish-peroxidase-conjugated streptavidin was added, followed by a biotinylated second antibody and addition of a chromogen, resulting in the formation of a colored product. Absorbance was measured at 450 nm to quantify color development. Levels of sCD26 in samples are determined by comparison with a standard curve prepared from six sCD26 standards, ranging from 500 to 15.6 ng mL^-1.

Determination of plasma sCD30 levels: Plasma levels of sCD30 were measured by ELISA (Biotest, Germany) a sandwich type immunoassay which can be used to measure sCD30 in plasma. Briefly, standards and patient specimens were added to peroxidase-conjougated mouse anti-CD30 in polystyrene microtiter wells precoated with another CD30 monoclonal antibody. After 3 h incubation and washing to remove unbound material, a chromogenic substrate was added to the wells. The reaction was then stopped and absorbance at 450 nm was measured. Levels of sCD30 in samples are determined by comparison with a standard curve prepared from 6 sCD30 standards, ranging from 100 to 1.6 U mL^-1.

PCR for HCV-RNA and HBV-DNA: These tests were performed at IBTO Iranian blood transfusion organization on the basis of routine procedures elsewhere.

Statistics: Because of small sample sizes, nonparametric statistics were used. The Mann-Whitney U-test in SPSS software was used for group comparisons. A p-value of 0.05 or less considered to represent significant.

RESULTS

The level of sCD26 were analyzed in relation to CD4 lymphocyte counts. The results are presented in Table 1. In contrast to finding of Pawlowska et al. (2003). The levels of sCD26 in these groups did not show statistically significant difference. The plasma concentration of sCD26 in 16/17 HIV infected patients ranged from 116-254 ng mL^-1, but one case the sCD26 value was 310 ng mL^-1, such concentration was found in a male patient with CD4+ lymphocyte counts over 200 μL^-1 (627 μL^-1) without GBV-C coinfection. The comparison of sCD26 levels in HIV infected and HIV/GBV-C coinfected subjects did not show statistically significant difference. The results are presented in Table 2. Present suggest that GBV-C infection does not appear to influence the level of sCD26. Plasma sCD26 in HIV infected individuals revealed a wider range of levels (116-310 ng mL^-1) than in uninfected controls (102-194 ng mL^-1) However, there was no significant difference in the levels of sCD26 between HIV infected individuals and uninfected controls (Table 3). Present Finding was in agreement with those of Hosono et al. (1999).

Plasma levels of sCD30 were increased in HIV infected patients in comparison with controls (Table 4); this is a support for the suggestion of a bias toward Th2 type responses during HIV infection. The levels of sCD30 were analyzed in relation to CD4 lymphocyte counts. The results are presented in Table 5.

Table 1:	sCD26 and levels in relation to CD4 lymphocyte counts

Table 2:	sCD26 in HIV – and HIV/GBV-C-infected patients

Table 3:	sCD26 levels in the studied subjects

Table 4:	sCD30 levels in the studied subjects

Table 5:	sCD30 levels in relation to CD4 lymphocyte counts

Table 6:	sCD30 HIV-and HIV/GBV-C-infected patients
NS = Not Significant

The concentration of sCD30 in patients with CD4 lymphocyte counts over 200 μ L^{- 1} were higher than patients with CD4 lymphocyte counts blow 200 μ L^{- 1} (35.91± 30.96 vs 20± 17.52 μ mL^{- 1}) and revealed a wider range of levels (8.2-93 vs 5.2-55 μ mL^{- 1}) we suggest that sCD30 levels may decline in the advanced stages of HIV disease. However, there was no significant difference in the levels of sCD30 between two groups.

The comparison of sCD30 levels in HIV infected and HIV/GBV-C coinfected patients did not shown statistically significant difference. The results are presented in Table 6.

DISCUSSION

We chose GBV-C RNA as a marker for active coinfection. We did not perform serological studies of GBV-C in our study because, in pervious studies the positive influence of GBV-C on the HIV prognosis was most marked among patients with active replication (Tilman et al., 2001; Williams et al., 2004; Xiang et al., 2001). To reduce the heterogeneity HIV positive patients with no HBV and HCV infection sign were included.

Plasma levels of soluble markers of immune activation have prognostic capabilities which are different from HIV viral load and CD4 T cell levels, for instance plasma sCD30 concentration in patients with early HIV infection portends a rapid progression to AIDS (Pizzolo et al., 1994; Rizzardi et al., 1996). To explore the effects of GBV-C coinfection among HIV infected patients, we evaluated sCD26 and sCD30 because they have been implicated with HIV infection, moreover in a number of reports, it has been reported that regulation of CD26 cell surface expression correlate with production of Th1-like cytokine and CD30 is expressed by T cells producing Th2 type cytokine. It is therefore possible that the analysis of Th1/Th2 cytokines by measuring plasma sCD26 and plasma sCD30.

There was no significant difference between the plasma levels of sCD26 in 17 HIV infected individuals and in 13 uninfected controls. Further studies are necessary to clarify to explain the conflicting results on the role of CD26 in HIV infection. Plasma levels of sCD30 were increased in HIV infected patients in comparison with controls (Table 4); this is a support for the suggestion of a bias toward Th2 type responses during HIV infection but trend towards declining levels of sCD30 with advanced HIV disease may be due to destruction of Th2 cells by direct or indirect HIV mediated cell killing and Th1 to Th0 shift in a proportion of T, cells. The comparison of sCD26 and sCD30 levels in HIV infected and HIV/GBV-C coinfected subjects did not show statistically significant difference. The plasma concentration of sCD30 in HIV infected patients ranged from 5.2 to 93 μ mL^-1. The highest concentration of sCD30 was 93 μ mL^-1, such concentration was found in a male patients with CD4 lymphocyte counts over 200 μL^-1 (532 μL^-1) with GBV-C coinfection. The highest sCD26/sCD30 ratio was found in a male patient with CD4 lymphocyte counts below 200 μL^-1 (148 μL^-1) without GBV-C infection, in this case the sCD30 value was 5.2 μ mL^-1.

Present results suggest that GBV-C infection does not appear to influence the level of sCD26 and sCD30 and also these finding suggest the in vivo involvement of the Th2 cells in the regulation of immunological process in HIV/GBV coinfected patients.

Infection with both GBV-C and HIV has been shown to lead to stable serum levels of T-helper 1 (Th1) cytokine files during follow-up compared to patients who are GBV-C RNA negative in which Th1 cytokine profiles fall (Nunnari et al., 2003). IL4 and IL10 levels rose over time and IL2 and IL12 levels fell over time in GBV-C RNA negative, HIV positive people whereas GBV-C RNA positive subjects had stable IL2, IL12, IL4 and IL10 levels, suggesting that GBV-C helps to maintain a Th1 cytokine profile (Nunnari et al., 2003). Sathar et al. (2004). Showed, patients who tested positive for GBV-C RNA had significantly lower CD30 cell counts, compared with those who did not, which reflects an increase in Th1 response.

Present results do not rule out significant difference in Th1 and Th2 cytokine related to GBV-C coinfection but our study suggest that there are not very large differences in sCD26 and sCD30 related to GBV-C infection. Although the use of sCD26 and sCD30 as surrogates for Th1 and Th2 are not widely supported in the literature and even though this cross-sectional study does not clearly reveal the associated between GBV-C coinfection and change in Th cytokine in people with HIV infection, the role of GBV-C in change of cytokine profiles seems controversial. Additional longitudinal studies that include more cases are needed to resolve this important issue. True that the action of cytokine is short-distanced, it would be more appropriate to directly analysis of constitutive cytokine mRNA expression in lymphoid tissues from HIV/GBV-C coinfected individuals to confirm an in vivo Th1/Th2 switch.

In summary, we found that there are not very large differences in sCD26 and sCD30 related to GBV-C infection among HIV infected patients in this cross-sectional study.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was financially supported by a grant from IBTO. The authors wish to thank Tabatabaie Aazam, Ataiee Zahra, Ranjbar fatemeh, Kavari Mahnaz, Ferdosian Fereshteh for excellent technical support.