Circulating cell adhesion molecules in HIV1-infected patients as indicator markers for AIDS progression.

Cell adhesion molecules play an important role during immune responses. Circulating (c) forms of these molecules have been used as monitors of disease progression. In this study, we have investigated serum levels of ICAM1, ICAM2, ICAM3 and VCAM1 in HIV-infected patients. Our results showed that levels of cICAMs and cVCAM1 are increased during HIV infection. Among an HIV-infected population, the cICAM2 level was higher in the asymptomatic group compared to the AIDS group. In contrast, the cICAM1 level was higher in the AIDS group compared to the asymptomatic group. No difference between the two groups was observed in cICAM3 and cVCAM1 levels. A significant correlation was found between cICAM1, cICAM2 and cVCAM1 in both populations. We also showed that the cICAM1/cICAM2 ratio was correlated with the increase in the c beta 2 microglobulin level and the decrease in CD4 T-cell counts in the AIDS group. These results indicate that serum cCAM1 and cICAM2 in HIV infection could be additional markers to discriminate between asymptomatic and progressor patients.