Monocyte infiltration of the brain is central to the path-ogenesis of HIV-1 encephalitis. The cytokines promoting recruitment of monocytes into the central nervous system during HIV-1 infection are not established. In this study, we evaluated human cerebrospinal fluid from patients with HIV-1 infection for transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) using a quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassays. Cytokine levels were compared to those from patients with multiple sclerosis and normal controls.

In cerebrospinal fluid of patients with HIV-1 infection and CD4 < 500 cells/mm³, both TGFβ1 and MCP-1 were significantly elevated compared to those with CD4 > 500 cells/mm³, multiple sclerosis, and controls.