Study of the Th1/Th2 balance during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Tunisia

Abstract

Blood samples from tunisian healthy donors were analysed in cell enumeration regarding T cells (total, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells), B cells and NK cells, and in intra-cytoplasmic production of three cytokines°: interferon-γ, interleukin-2 and interleukin-4, which allowed us to establish the tunisian normal ranges for all these parameters. In parallel, blood samples from patients living with the human immunodeficiency virus were even analysed for these parameters, showing the existence of some dysregulations in these three cytokines, dysregulations that were highly associated with those in T, B and NK cell enumeration and, in addition, that seemed to play a role in the progression of HIV disease.