Monitoring the changes of immune cells and cytokines in drug users with HIV/tuberculosis.

Objective To assess the changes of immue indexes of HIV infection and TB infection by determination of T cell subsets; Th1-Th2 and sytokines in drug users . Methods Flow cytometer (FCM) was adopted to determine the levels of CD3+, CD3+CD4+,CD3+CD8+. The concentrations of Th1(IL-2、IFN-γ) and Th2(IL-4、IL-6) cytokines in different groups of drug users and normal persons were determined by ELISA. Results There significantly statistical differences in 9 HIV positives , 5 TB patients ,40 drug users at good health condition and 40 normal persons were observed. The ratios of CD3+ CD4+ to CD3+CD8+and concentration of Th1 (IL-2、IFN-γ) were in the order of HIV groupTB groupnormal control (P 0.05),while the concentration of Th2 (IL-4、IL-6) was HIV groupTB groupnormal control (P0.05). Conclusion The ratiros of CD3+, CD3+CD4+ to CD3+CD8+ or the ratios of Th cell to Ts cell and the determinaion of concentrations of Th1 (IL-2, IFN-γ)/Th2 (IL-4、IL-6) can be used for assessment of the immune status, development and prognosis of HIV positives and TB patients.