Higher levels of TNF and IL-4 cytokines and low miR-182 expression in visceral leishmaniasis-HIV co-infected patients.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess serum cytokine and miRNA expression in visceral leishmaniasis-HIV (VL-HIV) co-infection and HIV mono-infection. We analysed 113 serum samples from HIV patients in areas endemic for leishmaniasis. The diagnosis of VL was confirmed in 65 of these 113 samples. The VL-HIV and HIV groups presented significant differences regarding haemoglobin level (P<.0001), lymphocyte count (P=.0444), white blood cell count (P=.0108), weight loss (P=.0310), HIV load (P<.0001) and CD4+ T-lymphocytes count (P=.0003). Levels of IL-6 and IL-10, IFN-γ and IL-6, IFN-γ and IL-10, TNF and IL-2 were positively correlated in VL-HIV co-infection, indicating higher serum levels of TNF and IL-4 (P<.0001). In addition, miR-182 expression was found to be significantly higher in HIV (P=.009), miR-210 exhibited no statistically significant difference between groups, and nonexpression of miR-122 was found in both groups. Together, TNF, IL-4 and miR-182 may represent circulatory biomarkers of VL-HIV co-infection.