Interleukin-8 A Marker of Disease Progression and Therapeutic Response in HIV Infection

Abstract

IL-8 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of HIV infection. Plasma level of IL-8 was determined in HIV infected subjects at the Lagos university Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. These are subjects on anti-retroviral treatment, freshly diagnosed treatment naïve HIV positive individuals, and non-HIV infected controls subjects. This study was conducted to determine the plasma level of interleukin-8 in HIV infected treatment naïve individuals, and individuals who are already on treatment, and compare the outcome with that obtained from HIV negative individuals. The study also compared the distribution of plasma interleukin-8 against variables such as CD4 count, viral load count,white blood cell count (WBC) and Haemoglobin concentration of the subjects. Plasma samples were collected and analyzed for interleukin-8 concentration using Elisa assay method. The optical density was converted to estimates using logarithm graph. The data collated were analyzed using EPI Info version 3.5.3 and SPSS version 17. Significance of differences between groups were determined using the Student's t-test and Chi test. Probability values of (P<0.05) were interpreted as significant. The mean IL-8 concentration was 48.02±6.24, 27.26±0.55, 4.06±2.82 (pg/ml)respectively for the naïve, on treatment and control groups. Showing a 12 fold increase in plasma IL-8 level between subjects and HIV negative control, CD4 and Viral load of the subject were also significantly associated with serum interleukin-8 concentration as immunossupression (CD4 count <200 cells/ul) was associated with higher serum levels of IL-8( 56% of subjects with CD4 <200cells/ul, had IL-8 values >8pg/ml and 73% of subjects with IL-8 levels >8pg/ml where those having CD4 values above 200cells/ul; p=0.00 respectively). Measurement of Interleukin-8 (IL-8) profiles in patients infected with HIV will provide a useful guide for treatment response and useful indicator of disease prognosis.
Summary

Key words: Interleukin 8, HIV infection,

Errata: This paper was Published in vol. 13, No 1-2 of January-February 2014 edition, but had to be republished in this edition to correct few minor oversight spotted out in the first publication.