Elevated serum levels of IL‐8 in patients with HIV infection

SUMMARY Scrum levels of IL‐8 were determined in HIV‐infected individuals and the results were compared with those for HIV controls. The IL‐8 levels were measured by an ELISA with a MoAb and a polyclonal antibody to recombinant IL‐8. The means and 95% confidence intervals of IL‐8 in sera of 36 HIV‐infected individuals and 32 matched controls were 275 and 216 349 pg/ml, and 8 and 4 14 pg/ml, respectively, showing a 34‐fold increase in IL‐8 in the circulation of HIV‐infected individuals. This increase does not appear to be related to the disease state, infection or systemic medical agents. This finding suggests the possible involvement of IL‐8 in the pathogenesis of HIV‐induced disease.