Chemokine mRNA levels in mononucleated cells of HIV-infected patients before and after initiation of PI- versus NNRTI-containing HAART.

To compare CC chemokine mRNA levels from native peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMCs) before and 6 months after the initiation of two different regimens of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), we treated group 1 (n = 11) with two nucleoside analogues and the protease inhibitor (PI) indinavir boosted by ritonavir (800/100 mg b.i.d.); group 2 (n = 8) was treated with the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) efavirenz instead of PI. CC chemokine mRNA levels (regulated upon T cell activation expressed secreted [RANTES], macrophage inhibitory protein [MIP]-1alpha, MIP-1beta, monocyte chemotactic protein [MCP]-1, MCP-2) were quantified from PBMCs before and 6 months after the initiation of HAART using a reverse transcription/real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The mRNA levels of MCP-1 and MCP-2 were significantly decreased in both groups (P < 0.05), while MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta were decreased significantly only in the PI-treated group, but not in the NNRTI group. A moderate decrease of RANTES was observed in both treatment groups. The data suggest that HAART regimens containing either NNRTI or PI are not equivalent with regard to modification of CC chemokine mRNA profiles.