Reduction of serum melatonin levels in HIV-1-infected individuals' parallel disease progression: Correlation with serum interleukin-12 levels

• Published in: Infection Vol. 31; no. 6; pp. 379 - 382
• Main Authors: NUNNARI, G, NIGRO, L, PALERMO, F, LETO, D, POMERANTZ, R. J, CACOPARDO, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01-12-2003; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Case-Control Studies; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD4-CD8 Ratio; Disease Progression; Female; HIV Infections - blood; HIV Infections - diagnosis; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Interleukin-12 - analysis; Interleukin-12 - blood; Linear Models; Male; Medical sciences; Melatonin - analysis; Melatonin - blood; Predictive Value of Tests; Probability; Prognosis; Risk Assessment; Sampling Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Severity of Illness Index; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Melatonin; Prognosis; HIV-1 virus; Check; Th1 lymphocyte; Cellular immunity; Case history; Prevention; Immunological investigation; T-Lymphocyte; Evolution; Serum; Th2 lymphocyte; Human; Immunopathology; Retroviridae; Interleukin 12; AIDS; Concentration; Method; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; In vitro; Infection; Virus; Viral disease; Human immunodeficiency virus
• ISSN: 0300-8126; 1439-0973
• DOI: 10.1007/s15010-003-4038-9

During the natural history of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) infection, an impairment of interleukin-12 (IL-12) production precedes a switch from a T-helper 1 (Th1) to a T-helper 2 (Th2) stage of cellular immunity. Melatonin, the main hormone produced by the pineal gland, seems to promote a Th1 response by increasing the production of IL-12 in vitro. The aim of this study was to measure and correlate serum levels of melatonin and IL-12 in a cohort of HIV-1-infected individuals.
77 anti-HIV-1-positive subjects were enrolled: 20 were in CDC stage A, 25 in CDC stage B and 32 in CDC stage C. 30 healthy HIV-1-seronegative subjects were recruited as controls. IL-12 and melatonin concentrations were quantitated in serum samples.
Mean levels of serum melatonin were significantly lower in HIV-1-infected individuals in comparison with controls (p < 0.001). Within the HIV-1-seropositive group, mean melatonin and IL-12 concentrations were significantly lower in patients in CDC stage C, as compared with patients in CDC stages B and A (p < 0.01).
During the natural history of HIV-1 disease, serum melatonin levels are progressively reduced. This reduction may be related to the impairment of Th1 immunoresponses.