Elevated concentrations of plasma α-melanocyte stimulating hormone are associated with reduced disease progression in HIV-infected patients☆,☆☆,★
Section snippets
Patients
One-hundred-fifteen patients with HIV infection, 80 men and 35 women, were enrolled in the study. Their ages ranged from 25 to 61 years (mean 34.5). Risk behaviors were identified in 109 patients: 54 were current injection-drug users, 25 were former injection-drug users, and 30 had sexual behaviors associated with HIV transmission (21 had heterosexual, 8 homosexual, and 1 bisexual sexual experience). HIV infection diagnosis and classification were defined according to the guidelines established
Clinical and immunologic end points
Complete records over 10 to 12 months were available for 87 patients (65 men, 22 women; mean age 33.63 years). The data reported below are from these patients.
During the study, 33 patients (37.9%) showed immunologic or clinical progression of disease. Eleven of these progressors had a decrease in CD4+ T cells with absolute count <200 cells/μL, therefore reaching the immunologic end point. One of these patients also showed clinical progression (from CDC III to IV A for wasting syndrome), whereas
Discussion
The results show that elevated concentrations of circulating α-MSH are associated with reduced progression of the disease in HIV-infected subjects. Plasma concentrations of α-MSH were greater in non-progressors than in progressors; further, the association between elevated α-MSH and reduced disease progression was even more pronounced in patients with CD4+ T cells <200/μL at baseline. No such association was observed for two other anticytokine molecules, IL-1 ra and s TNF r, indicating that the
References (26)
- et al.
Anti-inflammatory actions of the neuroimmunomodulator α-MSH
Immunol Today
(1997) - et al.
Endogenous cytokine antagonists during myocardial ischemia and thrombolytic therapy
Am Heart J
(1995) - et al.
Cytokine modulation of HIV expression
Semin Immunol
(1993) - et al.
Proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides and cytokines: relations in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
Clin Immunol Immunopathol
(1993) - et al.
Melanocortin peptides inhibit production of proinflammatory cytokines in whole blood samples of patients infected with HIV
Peptides
(1998) - et al.
The neuropeptide α-MSH has specific receptors on neutrophils and reduces chemotaxis in vitro
Peptides
(1996) - et al.
α-Melanocyte stimulating hormone in the modulation of host reactions
Endocr Rev
(1993) - et al.
Antiinflammatory effects of the neuropeptide α-MSH in acute, chronic, and systemic inflammation
Ann NY Acad Sci
(1994) - et al.
The anticytokine neuropeptide α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in synovial fluid of patients with rheumatic diseases: comparisons with other anticytokine molecules
Neuroimmunomodulation
(1994) - et al.
The neuropeptide α-MSH in AIDS and other conditions in humans
Ann NY Acad Sci
(1998)
Inhibitory influences of α-MSH peptides on HIV-1 expression in monocytic cells
Plasma concentrations of cytokine antagonists in patients with HIV infection
Neuroimmunomodulation
Revision of the CDC surveillance case definition for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
Cited by (16)
Brain effects of melanocortins
2009, Pharmacological ResearchTargeting melanocortin receptors as potential novel therapeutics
2006, Pharmacology and Therapeuticsα-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone in normal human physiology and disease states
2000, Trends in Endocrinology and MetabolismNew aspects on the melanocortins and their receptors
2000, Pharmacological ResearchResolution pharmacology and the treatment of infectious diseases
2024, British Journal of Pharmacology
- ☆
Supported by Grants 980.1.14 Progetto Terapia Antivirale/AIDS and 9403-30 IX Progetto AIDS from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy; and National Institutes of Health Grant NS10046 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke.
- ☆☆
Reprint requests: Anna Catania, MD, Third Division of Internal Medicine (Padiglione Granelli), Ospedale Maggiore di Milano IRCCS, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milano, Italy.
- ★
0022-2143/99 $8.00 + 0 5/1/95987