ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the levels of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) from HIV-1 infected and HIV-1 negative individuals and in human tumor cells in the presence or absence of TLR ligand stimulation.Methods TaqMan probe real-time RT-PCR method for human IDO mRNA was established; IDO mRNA levels in the PBMCs from HIV-1+ and HIV-1-individuals were tested; IDO mnRNA levels in mucosal origin(T84,Caco-2,Hela) and leukocyte origin(THP-1,MT-4) tumor cells before and after exposure to agonists for TLR4,TLR7/8 and TLR9 were examined.Results It was found that a high level of IDO mRNA could be found in HIV-1+ individuals( 103.42 copy IDO mRNA/106 copy GAPDH mRNA) ; however,some high risk HIV-1-individuals may have also a high level of IDO mRNA.Some of the tumor cells could express higher level of IDO mRNA after exposure to TLR agonist.Conclusion This study indicated a role for IDO in the viral persistence and tumor formation in HIV/AIDS and further studies were warranted.