Prognostic Value of Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (s-ICAM-1) in HIV-Infected Children

Abstract

Central events in the host defence system and immune-mediated damage are tightly regulated by celladhesion molecules. Sera from 28 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infected children divided intogroups according to disease severity, six seroreverting (SR) children and 25 healthy controls were studied todetect the presence of soluble intercellular adhesion molecu le-1 (s-ICAM-1). Soluble ICAM-1 levels werefound to be significantly increased in HIV-infected children in comparison with SR children or healthycontrols. Levels of soluble ICAM-1 were higher in patients with severe forms of HIV-infection than in thosewith a milder form of the disease. Significant differences in titers of s-ICAM-1 were recorded between SRchildren and HIV-infected children with mild disease or healthy controls. There was a significant correlationbetween s-ICAM-1 levels and the concentrations of beta 2 microglobulin (b2m) and, to a lesser extend,immunoglobulin A levels (IgA). Soluble ICAM-1 levels didn't change considerably in HIV-infected childrenin stable clini cal conditions, independently of their clinical stage of the disease, during a follow-up period of9±12 months. Conversely, s-ICAM-1 levels increased simultaneously with the appearance of new well-defined clini cal disorders or decreased during the improvement of clinical conditions. A significant negativecorrelation was recorded between the titers of the s-ICAM-1 and the CD41T-cell levels. These resultssuggest that the s-ICAM-1 might be another useful tool to evaluate disease progression.