Upregulation of interleukin-27 expression is correlated with higher CD4+ T cell counts in treatment of naive human immunodeficiency virus-infected Chinese

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a major global health problem and causes a huge 
number of deaths each year. Interleukin-27 (IL-27), which is composed of Epstein Barr virus-induced 
gene 3 (EBI3) protein and p28 protein, inhibits HIV replication in vitro. However, the status of IL27 and 
its relationship with CD4+ T cell counts in vivo in treatment -naïve HIV infected individuals has not yet 
investigated. We recruited 108 healthy and 120 HIV-infected but treatment-naive Chinese individuals to 
participate this study in the last two years. We determined the IL-27 titers in all the participants by using 
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and measured the CD4+ T cell counts in HIV-infected 
individuals by using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) assays. We showed that IL -27 titers 
were significantly elevated in HIV-infected individuals as compared to HIV negative healthy controls 
(612 ± 355 pg/ml vs 413 ± 230 pg/ml; P < 0.001). We also showed a significant positive correlation 
between plasma IL-27 titers and CD4+ T cell counts (r = 0.206, P = 0.024) in HIV-infected individuals. 
These findings suggest that the elevated plasma IL -27 levels may play important role in slowing down 
the CD4+ T cell declining in HIV-infected individuals and the process of AIDS disease.