IL-4 and CXCR4 upregulation in HIV-infected and uninfected individuals from Maharashtra-Mumbai.

We extended the investigation of the virus-host interaction in developing countries by analysing Indian HIV-infected and uninfected individuals from Maharashtra-Mumbai. Results showed that CXCR4 messenger RNA and surface expression, as well as IL-4 mRNA and T allele frequency at the -589 site in the IL-4 gene (high IL-4 production) were significantly increased in Indian compared with Italian individuals. Because IL-4 stimulates CXCR4 expression this observation could be explained by the higher frequency of the -589T IL-4 polymorphism.