Interferon Gamma and Soluble MICA as A New Biomarker for Immunological Severity Detection in HIV Infected Patients Undergoing Retroviral Therapy

Objective: Variations in immune responses to viral particles and antiretroviral drugs show interference of the cluster of differentiation number 4 T cell monitoring methods, leading to an inaccurate evaluation for human immunodeficiency virus infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. Other biological markers; such as cytokine; especially interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and soluble molecules of major histocompatibility complex class I chain related molecule A (sMICA), were designed as a novel severity marker. Material and Methods: Levels of IFN-γ and sMICA were evaluated for 69 patients, who presented with HIV infection; with no other diseases or inflammation. The candidates were classified into four groups, depending on their CD4 T cell count. The IFN-γ and sMICA serum content of the patients was detected in triplicate, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Mean value of IFN-γ in each severity group was 49.1±9.7, 69.1±21.8, 63.0±12.8, and 69.4±18.4 picograms/ milliliter for none, mild, advanced, and severe cases, respectively. sMICA was detected at 36.8±19.6, 134.7±122.5, 33.6±12.4, and 83.9±40.0 international unit/milliliter, respectively. A significant association between IFN-γ and CD4 cells of normal anti-retroviral treatment response, defined by CD4 cells and viral loads, was observed using Spearman correlation, with p-values 0.033, r -0.434, 0.026 and -0.321, respectively. Conclusion: IFN-γ and sMICA were found to be associated with the CD4 count in the normal responses to antiretroviral treatment. This suggested that IFN-γ could be used as a biological marker for monitoring of immunological severity during anti-retroviral responses.