leukotriene-b4 and Acquired-Immunodeficiency-Syndrome

In this study we evaluated the release of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 12 patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which disease was complicated by Cryptococcal Meninigitis and in CSF of 12 control subjects with inflammatory and degenerative pathologies of the Central Nervous System (CNS). We obtained low levels of LTB4 in all the AIDS patients (mean 60.5 pg/ml), while the HIV negative subjects with degenerative and inflammatory pathologies of CNS showed a mean of 91.5 pg/ml. The finding of low levels of this inflammatory reaction mediator agrees with the limited clinical symptoms of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis in patients affected by AIDS.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Binding, Competitive; Female; Humans; Leukotriene B4; Male; Meningitis, Cryptococcal; Middle Aged; Radioimmunoassay

Prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2 and leukotriene B4 monocyte production have been determined in human immune deficiency virus (HIV)-infected drug users (n = 36) and healthy subjects (n = 29). Eicosanoids were extracted from the incubates using C18 solid-phase cartridges and determined by radioimmunoassay. An enhanced production of prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 was detected in monocytes from HIV-positive drug users whether or not they had been previously stimulated with zymosan. Concomitant leukotriene B4 increases were not observed. The results reported in this paper indicate that altered cyclooxygenase arachidonic acid metabolism in monocytes from HIV-infected drug users is associated with the severe cellular immunodysfunction characteristic of AIDS. In contrast, leukotriene B4 does not seem to play a role in AIDS-associated immunosuppression.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Arachidonic Acid; Cells, Cultured; Dinoprostone; Female; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Leukotriene B4; Lipoxygenase; Male; Monocytes; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Substance-Related Disorders; Thromboxane B2

Neutrophils from 10 homosexual men with evidence of HIV infection and 10 healthy controls were tested for their capacity to generate leukotriene B4. Neutrophils from patients with AIDS produced less leukotriene immunoreactivity when appropriately stimulated than neutrophils from healthy controls, whereas no significant difference could be detected between HIV-antibody-positive individuals without AIDS and healthy controls. This observation may be pertinent to the recurrence of some of the opportunistic infections associated with AIDS but more importantly, if reflecting a general defect in leukotriene production, it may provide further understanding of the mechanism which leads to reduced natural killer-cell activity, interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma production in AIDS.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; HIV Seropositivity; Homosexuality; Humans; Leukotriene B4; Male; Neutrophils; Opportunistic Infections; Recurrence

There is evidence in some individuals that seborrhoeic dermatitis is an immuno-allergic reaction induced by nicotine as hapten. Nicotine is present in passive smoking, botanic areas, some foods at very low levels, smokeless tobacco and chewing gums. The successful use of topical ketoconazole as an anti-fungal treatment has been recently explained by its anti-leukotrienes properties in vitro, in vivo and by its capacity to inhibit the leukotrienes-mediated anaphylactic bronchoconstriction in the guinea-pigs. The occurrence of hypersensitivity to nicotine in seborrhoeic dermatitis remains to be determined, but an other original view is open for a better comprehension of an old disease.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Antipsychotic Agents; Dermatitis, Seborrheic; Haptens; Humans; Ketoconazole; Leukotriene B4; Malassezia; Models, Biological; Nicotine; Platelet Activating Factor