Review
Neopterin as a marker for activated cell-mediated immunity: Application in HIV infection

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Abstract

The production of neopterin is closely correlated with activation of cell-mediated immunity. The increased neopterin concentrations appear to be produced by human macrophages specifically stimulated with gamma-interferon. As Helmut Wachter and colleagues review here, neopterin studies reveal that preactivation of cell-mediated immunity is associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. In addition, in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, neopterin levels increase in parallel with progressive disease, are inversely correlated with CD4+/CD8+ T-cell subset ratios and are of predictive significance.

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      Neopterin concentrations in body fluids are useful in monitoring cellular immune activation (Th1-type) during infections, autoimmune diseases, and malignancies. Increased neopterin concentrations are observed prior to detectable viral antigen-specific IgM antibodies in HIV type 1 (HIV-1), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and rubella infections (Fuchs et al., 1988; Fuchs et al., 1990; Fuchs et al., 1992; Ibarra et al., 2011; Jungraithmayr et al., 2001; Reibnegger et al., 1991). The association of neopterin levels with the DENV severity (in particular with DHF/DSS) has also been reported previously (Chan et al., 2006; Widner et al., 1999).

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    This work was financially supported by the Austrian research funds ‘Zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung’, P 6036M.

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