192 Significant Relationship between INNO-LIA™ HIV I/II Positivity Bands and the Immunological Status of HIV Patients

Abstract

Objective: the aim of our work was to study the relation between the INNO-LIA™ HIV I/II (ILH) positivity band patterns and the immunological status of HIV patients. Methods: We looked for HIV patients whose ILH was performed between June 2007 and June 2008. The ILH bands were classified after the grade of positivity of the different antibodies: anti-sgp120, anti-gp41, anti-p31, anti-p24, anti-p17, anti-sgp105 and anti-gp36. We looked for age, gender, n° total leucocytes, n° total lymphocytes, n° of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, NK cells and HIV viral load. We looked also for HCV, HBV and HAV status. We studied 247 individuals, 65 were female (26,3%) and 182 male (73,7%) with ages between 15 and 76 years old with mean age of 40. Five patients were HIV-2 patients. Data statistical analysis was performed with SPSS program and P value <0.05 was regarded significant. Results: Sgp120 positivity was significantly related with the decreasing lymphocyte number (P = .046) and in the linear regression equation the HAV independent variable showed the highest predictive value for sgp120 positivity (P = .031). Gp41 was significantly related with HIV viral load (P = .040) and with HCV co-infection (P = .005); HCV and HAV were independent variables with predictive value for gp41 positivity (P = .001). P31 was associated significantly with the decreasing n° of leucocytes (P = .043) and CD19+ cells (P = .011); HIV viral load had the highest predictive value for p31 positivity. The positivity of p24 band was associated with increasing number of CD4+ (P = .0.000) and CD19+ cells (P = .000) and decreasing CD8+ cells (P = .001). There wasn't any significant correlation between p17, sgp105 nor gp36 and immunological parameters. Women showed higher CD4+ cells (P = .048) and p24 positivity (P = .010), being the gender the independent variable with the highest predictive value for the p24 positivity (P = .007). Men had higher HIV viral load (P = .019) and higher incidence of HCV co-infection (P = .021). CD4 cells decreased with age (P = .015). NK cells showed a decrease till 60 and increased afterwards (P = .000). HCV incidence was higher till 49 (P = .000), being 38, 8% of the population HCV co-infected. HBV carrier status was presented in 5, 8% and 40, 2% of the population had HBV resolved infection. HAV IgG was presented in 85, 8% of the individuals. CD4+ cells was significantly associated with HIV viral load (P = .000) and CD19+ cells (P = .000). Discussion and Conclusions: In spite of the limitations of a cross-sectional study, we found a significant relation between INNO-LIA™ HIV I/II positivity bands and immunological parameters in HIV infected patients. Anti-sgp120, anti-gp41 and anti-p31positivity are associated with a more immunodepressed status and a higher HIV viral replication. Concerning p24 antibody: is there a protective role for women? Is there a role for anti-p24 in vaccine issue? HCV co-infection and past HAV infection are associated with poorer immunological parameters. This issue highlights the importance of the chronic immune activation as the major factor for AIDS progression. The correlation found between CD4+ cells, CD19+cells and HIV viral load highlights the importance of the study of B cells in the pathogenesis and therapy for HIV infection.