Background. HIV infection is marked by the production of cytokines by infected cells and cells of the immune system. Variations in the levels of cytokine in HIV-infected individuals significantly impact the role of the immune system with the possibility to affect the course of HIV disease by either exacerbating or suppressing HIV replication. Aim. The study sought to investigate the effect of sociodemographic indices, clinical laboratory parameters, and ART regimen on Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines in HIV patients. Materials and methods. A total of two hundred (200) HIV patients on either the first or second line of ART were recruited into the study. Sociodemographic indices were collected using researcher-administered questionnaires. Serum concentrations of two major immune-promoting cytokines, IL-12 and IFN-γ, and immune-suppressive cytokines, IL-10 and IL-17, were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). T-test and chi-square were used to compare mean scores, while correlation (Pearson’s correlation) and linear regression analyses were also performed with the statistical significance set at . Results. The mean age of the participants was (45.54 ± 0.7846) years with a greater proportion (84.5%) between 31 and 60 years. The mean interferon-gamma (INF-γ), interleukin- (IL-) 10, interleukin-12, and interleukin-17 were estimated to be 349.9 ± 8.391 pg/ml, 19.32 ± 0.4593 pg/ml, 19.23 ± 0.3960 pg/ml, and 24.6 ± 0.6207 pg/ml, respectively. Although INF-γ and IL-17 levels were relatively higher in males compared to females, it was vice versa for IL-10 and IL-12. However, none of these was statistically significant. Again, no significant difference was observed among all the cytokines stratified by the duration of ART, stage of HIV, and smoking status. Most importantly, stratification by either first- or second-line ART regimens recorded no significant difference in cytokine levels. Age significantly correlated inversely with IFN-γ (r = −0.27, ), IL-10 (r = −0.24, ), and IL-12 (r = −0.18, ) while duration on ART significantly correlated inversely with IFN-γ (r = −0.16, ). CD4 counts at 6 months and 12 months on ART correlated inversely with IL-17 (r = −0.17, ) and plasma viral load at 1 year (r = −0.22, ), respectively. A positive correlation was observed between IFN-γ and IL-12 (r = −0.84, ) and IL-17 (r = −0.50, ). This positive trend was repeated between IL-10 and IL-12 (r = −0.92, ) and IL-17 (r = −0.61, ). Conclusion. The levels of IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-17, and IL-10 are not significantly affected by sociodemographics and ART regimen. This observation shows that no significant difference was observed in cytokine levels stratified by ART regiments. This means that both regimens are effective in the suppression of disease progression.

中文翻译：

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ART 治疗方案和其他社会人口统计学不影响加纳 HIV 患者的细胞因子表达。

背景。HIV感染的特点是受感染的细胞和免疫系统细胞产生细胞因子。HIV感染者细胞因子水平的变化会显着影响免疫系统的作用，并可能通过加剧或抑制HIV复制来影响HIV疾病的进程。目的。该研究旨在调查社会人口统计学指数、临床实验室参数和 ART 方案对 HIV 患者 Th1、Th2 和 Th17 细胞因子的影响。材料和方法。该研究共招募了两百 (200) 名接受一线或二线 ART 治疗的 HIV 患者。使用研究人员管理的问卷收集社会人口统计学指数。使用酶联免疫吸附测定 (ELISA) 测量两种主要免疫促进细胞因子 IL-12 和 IFN- γ以及免疫抑制细胞因子 IL-10 和 IL-17的血清浓度。使用T检验和卡方来比较平均分数，同时还进行相关性（皮尔逊相关性）和线性回归分析，统计显着性设置为。结果。参与者的平均年龄为（45.54±0.7846）岁，其中31岁至60岁之间的比例较高（84.5%）。平均干扰素-γ (INF- γ )、白细胞介素- (IL-) 10、白细胞介素-12 和白细胞介素-17 估计为 349.9 ± 8.391 pg/ml、19.32 ± 0.4593 pg/ml、19.23 ± 0.3960 pg/ml毫升和24.6±0.6207皮克/毫升，分别。尽管与女性相比，男性的 INF- γ和 IL-17 水平相对较高，但 IL-10 和 IL-12 的水平却相反。然而，这些都没有统计学意义。同样，根据 ART 持续时间、HIV 阶段和吸烟状况分层的所有细胞因子之间没有观察到显着差异。最重要的是，根据一线或二线 ART 方案进行分层，细胞因子水平没有显着差异。年龄与 IFN- γ ( r  = -0.27, )、 IL-10 ( r  = -0.24, )和 IL-12 ( r  = -0.18, )显着负相关，而 ART 持续时间与 IFN- γ显着负相关( r  = -0.16，）。ART 治疗 6 个月和 12 个月时的 CD4 计数分别与 IL-17 ( r  = -0.17, )和 1 年血浆病毒载量 ( r  = -0.22, )呈负相关。IFN- γ与 IL-12呈正相关( r  = -0.84, ) 和 IL-17（r  = -0.50，）。这种积极趋势在 IL-10 和 IL-12 ( r  = -0.92, )以及 IL-17 ( r  = -0.61, )之间重复出现。结论。IFN- γ 、IL-12、IL-17 和 IL-10的水平不受社会人口统计学和 ART 方案的显着影响。这一观察结果表明，按 ART 方案分层的细胞因子水平没有观察到显着差异。这意味着两种治疗方案都能有效抑制疾病进展。