Influence of tuberculosis on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1): Enhanced cytokine expression and elevated beta sub(2)-microglobulin in HIV-1 associated tuberculosis

Tuberculosis results in activation of T cells and macrophages that may harbor latent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). Although such activation is beneficial to the host in terms of mycobacterial disease, it may be deleterious in terms of HIV-1. In Ugandan HIV-1-seropositive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, antigen-induced blastogenesis and production of tumor necrosis factor- alpha (a cytokine that induces expression of HIV-1 in latently infected cells) were 3-10 times greater than in controls. The mean serum beta sub(2)-microglobulin level was 5.22 mg/L in recently diagnosed patients, significantly greater than levels in HIV-negative patients with tuberculosis or asymptomatic HIV-1-seropositive subjects. beta sub(2)-microglobulin was significantly lower in subjects who had completed at least 2 months of antituberculous therapy. These observations suggest that HIV-1-associated tuberculosis is accompanied by immune activation that may result in increased HIV expression and accelerated progression of AIDS.