Relationships between the factors of innate immune system and results of neurocognitive function parameters in the persons living with HIV infection: interim results of the study

HIV infection is closely associated with damage to the nervous system, even despite usage of antiretroviral therapy. Thus, the patients are at a high risk for neurological complications. Due to limited permeability of the blood-brain barrier, the opportunity of its damage, both directly by the proteins of HIV-infected cells and indirectly, by immune system, e.g., inducing the production of inflammatory mediators, the involvement of the central nervous system in pathogenesis of HIV infection seems to be only a matter of time. HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) comprise a poly-etiological pathological condition associated with direct and indirect damage to neurons in HIV infection. The role of interaction between the innate immune system and nervous system mediators in viral infections suggests that the specific changes in content and ratios of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines that are among the most polypotent mediators of immune regulation can be detectable in the persons prone to the development of HAND in HIV infection. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the features of serum content and the relationship between the indexes of innate immunity factors with the results of neurocognitive testing in the persons living with HIV.

123 persons were included in the study, of which 93 subjects live with HIV infection. They were divided into 3 groups according to the stages of HIV infection, according to the Russian Classification of HIV infection. 30 persons represented a group of healthy volunteers, comparable in age and gender with the members of main groups, and served as a control group. Determination of IL-1β and IL-10 contents in blood serum was carried out by solid-phase enzyme immunoassay. The level of CD4⁺T lymphocytes was determined by flow cytometry. Neurocognitive testing using Schulte tables, the Munsterberg test was conducted by a medical psychologist, according to generally accepted methods.

A significant increase in the serum IL-10 content in subjects from the main groups was revealed as compared with the control group, as well as in group III compared with the values groups I and II. The levels of IL- 1β, CD4⁺T lymphocytes were significantly lower in group III, compared with all other groups. The personal performance index determined by testing with Schulte tables was reduced in all groups, relative to the controls, with a significant predominance of the results in groups I and II over the results of the participants from group III. The scores in Munsterberg test were equally diminished in all the main groups compared to the control values. When assessing the Spearman coefficient, the presence of various correlation profiles was established, depending on the stage of the disease.