CD4+ T-Cell Count, and Plasma Levels of Thymosin β4 and Prolactin in Patients with HIV-1 and Tuberculosis Co-infection
Keywords:
HIV, Tuberculosis, Immunodeficiency, Thymosin, ProlactinAbstract
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) are among the leading global public health problems with significant morbidity and mortality. Although the immunologic signatures of the diseases, characterised by depressed immune responses, have been established, there is the need to confirm the immunologic complications during HIV/TB coinfection. This study was thus, designed to determine the CD4+ T-cell count, and plasma levels of thymosin β4 (Tβ4) and prolactin in patients with HIV/TB co-infection.
Materials and Methods: Two hundred adults comprising 50 HIV-1 patients, 50 TB patients, 40 patients with HIV/TB co-infection and 60 healthy, non-infected controls participated in this study. Plasma levels of Tβ4 and prolactin were determined using ELISA while the CD4+ T-cell count was done using flow cytometry.
Results: The mean CD4+ T-cell count was significantly lower in patients with HIV-1, TB and HIV/TB co-infection compared the controls. The mean CD4+ T-cell count was significantly lower in patients with HIV/TB co-infection compared with patients infected with TB only. The mean plasma level of Tβ4 was similar in patients with HIV-1, TB, HIV/TB co-infection and controls. However, the mean plasma level of prolactin was significantly higher in patients with HIV-1 only and patients with HIV/TB co-infection compared with the controls. Plasma levels of Tβ4, prolactin and CD4+ T-cell count had no significant correlation in patients with TB, HIV-1 and HIV/TB co-infection.
Conclusion: Co-infection with HIV-1 and TB could be associated with significant reduction in CD4+ T-cell count. Also, elevated prolactin level could be a feature of HIV-1 infection and not TB infection.
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