Low interleukin-10 production is associated with diabetes in HIV-infected patients undergoing antiviral therapy

Reduced interleukin-10 (IL-10) production is associated with type 2 diabetes in elderly individuals. Antiviral therapy (ARV)-induced immune modulation results in diminished IL-10 production, and diabetes can be observed in ARV-treated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. We analyzed, in a cross-sectional pilot study, HIV-antigen-stimulated IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) production, and intracellular concentration (ICC), as well as B7-H1 expression, a marker preferentially presented by IL-10-producing cells, in 20 ARV-treated individuals in whom diabetes did (n=10; diabetes mellitus, DM) or did not (n=10; controls) develop. Pre-ARV glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides levels, duration of HIV infection and of therapy, exposure to protease inhibitors (PI), HIV plasma viremia, CD4 counts, and nadir were similar in DM and control patients. Results showed that: (1) IL-10 production was lower; (2) IL-10 ICC was reduced; (3) B7-H1-expressing CD19(+) cells were diminished; and (4) TNFalpha production and ICC by CD4(+) T cells was augmented in DM patients. Development of diabetes in HIV infected, ARV-treated individuals could be a response to therapy. Similar to what is observed in elderly individuals, low IL-10 production is associated with diabetes in antiviral-treated HIV infection. Further studies will be necessary to clarify whether low IL-10 is a risk factor for, or a consequence of, diabetes.