CORRELATION OF SERUM CYTOKINE LEVELS WITH HEMATOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION

Abstract. Mononuclear phagocyte‐derived cytokines are important regulators of haemopoiesis in inflammatory conditions. By means of radioimmunoassay we measured the levels of two cytokines, tumour necrosis factor‐α and interleukin 1β in sera from subjects infected with human immunodeficiency virus, and related the levels to the presence and severity of haematological abnormalities. The levels of tumour necrosis factor‐α were significantly higher in patients with anaemia (142 ± 17 (SE) pg ml−1), lymphopenia (107 ± 20 pg ml−1) or both (137 ± 21 pg ml−1) than in individuals without anaemia (18 ± 5 pg ml−1; P < 0.001), without lymphopenia (16 ± 7 pg ml−1; P < 0.001) or without either disorder (19 ± 7 pg ml−1; P < 0.001). A strong negative correlation was found between tumour necrosis factor‐α and haemoglobin values (r = − 0.83, P < 0.001) and absolute lymphocyte count (r = − 0.66, P < 0.001) in human immunodeficiency virus infection. The changes in the levels of serum interleukin 1β were less pronounced but followed the same general trend as the changes in tumour necrosis factor‐α. The results show that the production of mononuclear phagocyte‐derived cytokines is enhanced in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and that the levels of these factors are correlated with the presence of certain haematological abnormalities. 1990 Blackwell Publishing Ltd