Roberts, Lindi.Williamson, Carolyn.Little, Francesca.Bebell, Lisa M.Mlisana, Koleka Patience.Burgers, Wendy A.Passmore, Jo-Ann Shelley.van Loggerenberg, Francois.Walzl, Gerhard.Djoba Siawaya, Joel Fleury.Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.Abdool Karim, Quarraisha.2012-11-282012-11-2820102010Roberts, L. et al. 2010. Plasma cytokine levels during acute HIV-1 infection predict HIV disease progression. Aids. 24(6), pp. 819–831.0269-9370http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0b013e3283367836http://hdl.handle.net/10413/8033Background: Both T-cell activation during early HIV-1 infection and soluble markers of immune activation during chronic infection are predictive of HIV disease progression. Although the acute phase of HIV infection is associated with increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production, the relationship between cytokine concentrations and HIV pathogenesis is unknown. Objectives: To identify cytokine biomarkers measurable in plasma during acute HIV-1 infection that predict HIV disease progression. Design: Study including 40 South African women who became infected with HIV-1 and were followed longitudinally from the time of infection. Methods: The concentrations of 30 cytokines in plasma from women with acute HIV-1 infection were measured and associations between cytokine levels and both viral load set point 12 months postinfection and time taken for CD4 cell counts to fall below 350 cells/ul were determined using multivariate and Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: We found that the concentrations of five plasma cytokines, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IFN-y, IL-7 and IL-15 in women with acute infection predicted 66% of the variation in viral load set point 12 months postinfection. IL-12p40, IL-12p70 and IFN-y were significantly associated with lower viral load, whereas IL-7 and IL-15 were associated with higher viral load. Plasma concentrations of IL-12p40 and granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor during acute infection were associated with maintenance of CD4 cell counts above 350 cells/ul, whereas IL-1a, eotaxin and IL-7 were associated with more rapid CD4 loss. Conclusion: A small panel of plasma cytokines during acute HIV-1 infection was predictive of long-term HIV disease prognosis in this group of South African women.enHIV (Viruses)HIV infections.Cytokines.Viral load.Peer reviewed journal article