HIV-1 infection is associated with altered innate pulmonary immunity

We obtained bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from 45 Ma-lawian adults, to measure the concentrations of innate pulmonary immune factors that are important in lung defense against infection. Increased concentrations of the beta-chemokine RANTES were found in BAL fluid from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-infected subjects, compared with those in BAL fluid from the HIV-1-uninfected control subjects (mean, 86 pg/mL vs. 0 pg/mL;). Lysozyme concentrations were also elevated in the HIV-1-infected subjects, compared with those in the HIV-1-uninfected control subjects (1.9 mu g/mL vs. 1.1 mu g/mL;), but were not elevated in the HIV-1-infected subjects who had recently recovered from invasive pneumococcal disease. Concentrations of lactoferrin and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) were not different when the subjects were compared by HIV- 1 serostatus. Concentrations of RANTES (R-2 = 0.68 and P <.0001) and SLPI (and) correlated with BAL fluid HIV-1 load but not with plasma HIV- 1 load.