Abstract
Monocytes and brain macrophage-microglial cells are thought to play a crucial role in the neurologic dysfunction associated with HIV-1 disease. Since neopterin is produced by monocytes-macrophages, we asked whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neopterin levels increase before the onset of HIV-1 neurologic disease and whether they correlate with other CSF and peripheral blood immunologic parameters. In this study, CSF neopterin levels from 159 neurologically asymptomatic HIV-positive persons were found to increase as the blood CD4+ T-cell count decreased and as CSF IgG, IgG synthesis, IgG index, and β2-microglobulin increased. Neopterin levels in the CSF exceeded those in the serum in 32% of patients, while 25% had (CSF levels >13.5 nmol/liter. CSF neopterin levels vary with immune status, may reflect intrathecal production, and can be elevated in asymptomatic HIV-positive patients with normal neurologic examinations. Long-term follow-up of this patient population should be able to define the clinical correlation between CSF neopterin levels during the asymptomatic phase of HIV-1 disease and the risk of subsequent neurologic disease.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 267-272 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Viral Immunology |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 1993 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Molecular Medicine
- Virology