Apoptosis of CD57+ and CD57- lymphocytes in the lung and blood of HIV-infected subjects

Patients infected with HIV frequently have a CD8+ lymphocytic alveolitis consisting of HIV-specific CD8+CD57- cytotoxic T lymphocytes. However, in late stage disease, there is expansion of a CD8+CD57+ population with suppressive properties. We examined role of lymphocyte apoptosis in the expansion of the CD8+CD57+ lymphocytes in late stage HIV in the lung and blood compartment in human subjects. Fas was expressed on virtually all lung lymphocytes from HIV-infected and normal subjects. Fas ligand expression was increased in HIV infection in both CD8+CD57+ and CD8+CD57- lymphocytes, though a significantly greater percentage of CD8+CD57+ cells expressed this marker. CD8+CD57+ lymphocytes in normal and HIV-infected subjects underwent more apoptosis than CD8+CD57- cells. However, in late stage HIV infection, the percentage of CD8+CD57+ cells undergoing apoptosis declined. These data demonstrate that under normal conditions CD8+CD57+ cells appear destined to undergo programmed cell death. Expansion of suppressive CD8+CD57+ cells in the lungs of HIV-infected subjects with advanced disease may be due to the failure of this normal regulatory process.     

Selective increase of activation antigens HLA-DR and CD38 on CD4+ CD45RO+ T lymphocytes during HIV-1 infection.

Infection with HIV results in a progressive depletion of CD4+ T cells and leads to significant in vivo lymphocyte phenotype changes. In this regard, the expression of HLA-DR and CD38 on CD8+ T cells has been shown to increase dramatically with disease progression. We investigated the expression of both activation markers on CD4+ T cells in HIV-1-infected subjects at different clinical stages of infection and compared the in vivo activation of CD4+ T cells with parameters of viral activity and CD8+ T cell activation. Fresh peripheral venous blood was obtained from 54 HIV-infected subjects and from 28 uninfected healthy controls. Three-colour immunophenotyping of the CD4+ T cell subset showed that the proportion of CD4+ T cells expressing HLA-DR (10% in HIV-negative controls) or CD38 (62% in HIV-negative controls) was higher in asymptomatic (P < 0.05 for CD38) and symptomatic (P < 0.001 for HLA-DR and CD38) HIV-infected subjects than in controls, whereas the proportion of CD4+ T cells expressing CD45RO (54% in controls) remained relatively unchanged. Simultaneous expression of HLA-DR and CD38 on CD4+ T cells increased from 2.3% in controls to 11% (P < 0.001) in asymptomatic and 22% (P < 0.001) in symptomatic HIV-infected subjects. This relative increase of CD38 and HLA-DR expression occurred mainly on CD4+ T cells co-expressing CD45RO. Changes in expression of HLA-DR and CD38 on CD4+ T cells correlated with similar changes on CD8+ T lymphocytes, with the presence of HIV antigen in the circulation, and with the disease stage of HIV infection.     

In vitro influence of Mycoplasma penetrans on activation of peripheral T lymphocytes from healthy donors or human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals.

Mycoplasma penetrans is a mycoplasma species newly isolated from the urine of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals and presents the only case in which an association has been found between antibodies against a mycoplasma and HIV infection. To further explore the effects of M. penetrans on the immune system, we studied the influence of this mycoplasma on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors and HIV-infected individuals. M. penetrans induced, in addition to blastogenesis of PBMCs, a significant proliferative response associated with the expression of some activation markers such as CD69, HLA-DR, and CD25. This M. penetrans-dependent lymphocyte activation was observed not only in healthy donors but also in HIV-infected persons at different stages of the disease. In addition, our study revealed that both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were responsive to M. penetrans. Interestingly, the mitogenic activity of M. penetrans was associated with mycoplasma cells but not with the supernatants of mycoplasma culture. The potent stimulating activity of M. penetrans on T lymphocytes from HIV-infected individuals is of particular interest in view of the supposed contribution of immune activation to HIV replication and disease progression.     

Human B and T lymphocytes have similar amounts of CD21 mRNA, but differ in surface expression of the CD21 glycoprotein

CD21, the complement receptor type 2 (CR2), binds the complement fragments iC3b, C3dg and C3d, interacts with CD23 (the low-affinity receptor for IgE), and binds IFN-alpha. This 145 kDa glycoprotein merits particular interest because it plays a pivotal role in the activation and proliferation of B cells by lowering the signal threshold. In human disease CD21 is important as a receptor for Epstein- Barr virus and HIV. CD21 is primarily expressed on B lymphocytes and follicular dendritic cells, but has also been reported on T cells. We established a semi-quantitative PCR and compared the CD21 mRNA levels of B and T lymphocytes with the expression of the CD21 glycoprotein on the surface of the respective cells by flow cytometry. The B cell lines Raji and Ramos and the T cell lines Jurkat and Molt4 expressed equal amounts of CD21 mRNA, but differed in surface staining. To address the question to which extent primary human B and T lymphocytes express CD21 mRNA and membrane-bound CD21 glycoprotein, we separated B cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors. B lymphocytes and CD4+ or CD8+ T cells expressed similar amounts of CD21 mRNA. Nevertheless only B cells, but not CD4+ or CD8+ T cells, expressed detectable amounts of CD21 on their cell surface. Expression of the CD21 exon 11 has been reported being restricted to follicular dendritic cells only. To the contrary, we found that both purified B and T cell subpopulations expressed CD21 mRNA with and without exon 11.      

Expression of CD28 on CD8+ and CD4+ Lymphocytes During HIV Infection

CD28 interaction with B7 molecules, expressed on the membranes of antigen-presenting cells, costimulates cytokine production, T-cell proliferation and generation of cytotoxic lymphocytes. The expression of CD28 markers on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ lymphocytes was studied in a group of subjects at various stages of HIV infection. A reduction in the percentage of CD28-bearing CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cell subsets was observed during the asymptomatic stage of the disease. This reduction was more pronounced in AIDS than in non-AIDS patients. At the same time, an increase in the absolute CD8⁺CD28⁻ cell number (greater in stage A than in stage B and C subjects) was observed in HIV-infected patients. The finding of an altered pattern of CD28 expression on T cells might per se explain certain early defects in the cytokine pattern and in the immune response peculiar to HIV-infected patients.     

Dissociation of CD154 and cytokine expression patterns in CD38+ CD4+ memory T cells in chronic HIV-1 infection

Expression of the activation antigen CD38 on T cells is a strong predictor of the risk of HIV disease progression, but it is not known whether CD38 is a marker or mediator of dysfunction. We examined the relationship between CD38 expression and responses to T-cell receptor stimulation in central memory and effector memory CD4 T cells in HIV-infected persons and in healthy controls. Basal CD38 expression was preserved by blocking golgi transport with brefeldin A. Intracellular expression of interleukin 2, interferon γ, and CD154 was measured after stimulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells with the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B with or without anti-CD28 costimulation. Interferon-γ responses were comparable or increased in stimulated CD38 memory cells, and the interleukin 2 responses of costimulated CD38 central memory cells were decreased in HIV infection. In CD38 cells and especially in CD38 cells of HIV-infected persons, stimulated memory cells more often failed to express CD154 (CD40 ligand) when induced to express cytokine. A dissociated cytokine and CD154 expression by memory CD4 T cells may impair interactions between T cells and antigen-presenting cells, contribute to impaired immunity and help explain the relationship between CD38 expression and disease progression in chronic HIV infection.     

Acute activation of CD8+ T lymphocytes in interleukin-2-treated HIV-infected patients. ANRS-048 IL-2 Study Group. Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le SIDA.

CD8+ T lymphocytes play a key role in the control of HIV infection, through both cytotoxic and noncytotoxic mechanisms. To study in vivo effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2) treatment on this cell compartment, the level of activation of CD8+ T lymphocytes was evaluated before and just after 5-day administration of IL-2 in 16 HIV-infected patients. The serum level of soluble CD25 and of soluble CD8 significantly increased following IL-2 administration. The number of mRNA molecules coding for perforin and granzyme B, two enzymes that are contained in granules of cytotoxic cells, also significantly increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in purified CD8+ cells (p < .001). Variations of plasma HIV viremia and perforin gene expression following IL-2 administration were inversely correlated (p = .023), suggesting that IL-2-induced activation of CD8+ T lymphocytes contributes to limit HIV replication in vivo. In contrast to perforin and granzyme B gene expression, IL-2 administration did not increase the expression of macrophage inhibitory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), MIP-1beta, and regulated-on-activation normal T-expressed and secreted (RANTES) genes. These findings indicate that CD8+ T lymphocytes in HIV-infected patients are acutely activated by IL-2 treatment, which may improve long-term control of HIV infection.     

Evidence for the Role of CR1 (CD35), in addition to CR2 (CD21), in Facilitating Infection of Human T Cells with Opsonized HIV

Complement activation by HIV results in the binding of C3 fragments to the gp160 complex and enhanced infection of C3 receptor-bearing target cells. We have studied complement-mediated enhancement of infection of the human CD4-positive T-cell line HPB-ALL which expresses the CR1 (CD35) and CR2 (CD21) receptors for C3. CR1 and CR2 are present on 15% and 40% of normal peripheral blood CD4-positive T lymphocytes respectively. Opsonization of the virus with complement resulted in a 3- to 10-fold enhancement of infection of HPB-ALL cells, as assessed by measuring the release of p24 antigen in culture supernatants throughout the culture period. Blockade of CR2 with cross-linked anti-CR2 monoclonal antibodies decreased infection to the level observed with unopsonized virus. Blocking CR1 reduced complement-mediated infection by 50–80%. Experiments using serum deficient in complement factor I demonstrated that CR1 mediates the interaction between opsonized virus and T cells in addition to its ability to serve as a cofactor for the cleavage of C3b into smaller fragments that interact with CR2. A requirement for CD4 in complement-mediated enhancement of infection was observed with HIV-1 Bru but not with HIV-1 RF. Thus, CR1 and CR2 contribute in an independent and complementary fashion to penetration of opsonized virus into complement receptor-expressing T cells. Involvement of CD4 in infection with opsonized virus depends on the viral strain.     

CR1 (CD35) and CR3 (CD11b/CD18) mediate infection of human monocytes and monocytic cell lines with complement-opsonized HIV independently of CD4.

Peripheral blood and tissue mononuclear phagocytes serve as major viral reservoirs in HIV-infected individuals. We investigated the role of complement receptors CR1 (CD35) and CR3 (CD11b/CD18) in mediating productive infection with complement-opsonized HIV-1 and HIV-2 of cultured normal human peripheral blood monocytes, the promonocytic cell line THP-1, the monocytic cell line Mono Mac 6 and the glial cell line U251-MG. Cells were infected with the HTLV-IIIB strain of HIV-1 or the LAV-2 strain of HIV-2 that had been preopsonized with fresh human normal HIV seronegative serum. Productive infection was assessed by syncytia formation, the MTT cytotoxicity assay and/or release of p24 antigen in culture supernatants. Using suboptimal amounts of virus to infect the cells, we observed a higher and earlier productive infection of the cells with complement-opsonized HIV than with unopsonized virus. The enhancing effect of complement was totally suppressed by blocking CR1 or CR3 function with F(ab)'2 fragments of anti-receptor MoAbs; while blocking of the LFA-1 antigen had no effect. The infection of monocytic cells with complement-opsonized virus occurred independently of CD4 since it was not inhibited by F(ab)'2 fragments of a MoAb against the gp120 binding site of CD4 and since infection also occurred with Mono Mac 6 and U251-MG cells, which lack expression of the CD4 antigen and of CD4 mRNA. These observations suggest that complement may mediate productive infection of cells of the monocytic lineage with 'lymphocytotropic' HIV strains independently of CD4.     

中国HIV-1暴露未感染者及感染者趋化因子受体CX3CR1的表达研究

目的 通过分析中国HIV-1暴露未感者（exposed semnegative individuals，ESN）及HIV-1感染者外周血中CX3C1^＋CD8^＋／CD3^＋、CX3CR1^＋CD16^＋／CD3^-、CX3CR1^＋CD56^＋／CD3^-细胞百分率及绝对值的变化，探讨CX3CR1受体与HIV-1感染及疾病进展的关系。方法 采集19例ESN、34例未经治疗的HIV-1感染者及18例健康人抗凝静脉血，采用流式细胞仪检测技术，分析计算三色荧光抗体标记的全血中CX3CR1^＋CD8^＋／CD3^＋、CX3CR1^＋CD16^＋／CD3^-、CX3CR1^＋CD56^＋／CD3^-细胞百分率及绝对值。结果 ESNCX3CR1^＋CD8^＋／CD3^＋细胞的百分率是11．05％±6．52％，绝对值是81．16±13．67个／山，显著高于正常对照组（百分率是5．69％±3．94％，绝对值是37．36±8．28个/μl）；HIV-1感染组CX3CR1^＋CD8^＋／CD3^＋细胞的百分率是20．98％±11．88％，绝对值是166．38±138．38个/μl，显著高于正常对照组。ESN的CX3CR1^＋CD16^＋／CD3^-细胞的绝对值是312．49±159．45个／m，显著高于HIV-1感染组（108．83±119．35个／ta）。ESN的CX3CR1^＋CD56^＋／CD3^-细胞的绝对值是316．98±162．56个叫，显著高于HIV-1感染组（100．27±114．57个／ta）。HIV．1感染者的CX3CR1^＋CD16^＋／CD3^-、CX3CR1^＋CD56^＋／CD3^-细胞的绝对值与CIM^＋T淋巴细胞的绝对值呈明显正相关（P〈0．05）。结论CX3CR1^＋CD8^＋／CD3^＋细胞在中国ESN体内起保护作用，而在HIV-1感染者体内发挥有限的保护作用。表达CX3CR1受体的NK细胞可以作为监测HIV-1感染者免疫状况的一个指标。     

HIV 感染者调节性T 细胞表面B、T 淋巴细胞衰减因子的表达研究

目的:对HIV 感染者调节性T 细胞(Regulatory T cell,Treg)上B 、T 淋巴细胞衰减因子(B and T lymphocyte at-tenuator,BTLA)的表达水平进行检测,并探讨其在HIV 感染进程中的作用。方法:选取24 例感染在一年之内的HIV 早期感染者(Early HIV infected patients,EHI 组)、14 例感染超过一年的HIV 慢性感染者(CD4+ T 计数>200 cells/ μl,HIV 组)、6 例AIDS患者(CD4+ T 计数<200 cells/ μl,AIDS 组)和9 例健康人作为对照,应用流式细胞仪检测不同时期感染者及健康对照者Treg 细胞BTLA 的表达水平,分析其与疾病进展及免疫活化的相关性。结果:随着HIV 疾病进展,EHI 组、HIV 组及AIDS 组Treg 细胞BTLA 表达水平依次升高,其中HIV 组与AIDS 组Treg 细胞BTLA 表达水平显著高于EHI 组(P<0.05 及P<0.01),AIDS 组Treg 细胞BTLA 的表达水平高于健康对照(P<0.05);Treg 细胞BTLA 表达水平与CD4+ T 淋巴细胞计数呈负相关(P<0.001),与病毒载量呈正相关(P<0.01);Treg 细胞BTLA 表达水平与活化CD4+ CD38+ T 淋巴细胞及CD4+ HLA-DR+ T 淋巴细胞呈正相关(P<0.001,P<0.001)。结论:HIV 感染者Treg 细胞BTLA 表达升高,与疾病进展显著相关,提示其可能通过加强Treg 细胞的抑制功能加速疾病进展,并为未来HIV 感染的干预提供信息。     

Concentrations of Soluble CD95 and CD8 Antigens in the Plasma and Levels of CD8+CD95+, CD8+CD38+, and CD4+CD95+ T Cells Are Markers for HIV-1 Infection and Clinical Status

Apoptosis mediated via the CD95 (FAS/APO-1) receptor is thought to play a role in the depletion of CD4+ T cells in HIV infection. In the present study expression of the CD95 antigen on lymphocyte subsets and the plasma level of soluble CD95 (sCD95) were determined in HIV-1-infected adults. The expression of CD95 was increased on CD8 cells in all groups of HIV+ individuals, while increased expression of CD95+ cells on CD4 cells was limited to individuals with CD4 counts of <200 mm³. The proportion of CD4+ that expressed CD95 was inversely correlated with the percentage of CD4+ PBL. The concentration of sCD95 was significantly higher in the plasma of HIV-infected individuals than in normal controls. The level of sCD95 in HIV-infected subjects showed no correlation with the percentage of PBL expressing CD95, indicating that the increased level of sCD95 did not reflect release from CD95+ PBL. The plasma sCD95 concentration was significantly correlated with the percentage of CD8+ cells and, particularly, with CD8+CD38– cells. A striking inverse correlation was found between the sCD95 plasma concentration and the proportion of CD4+CD95+ cells out of the total CD4+ population. There was no correlation between the serum level of sCD95 and that of soluble CD8 (sCD8), both of which were increased in the plasma of HIV+ individuals. Unlike the level of sCD95, the level of sCD8 in the plasma of HIV+ individuals. Unlike the level of sCD95, the level of sCD8 in the plasma of HIV+ individuals was correlated with the percentage of CD95+ and CD8+CD38+ cells. The present study indicates that plasma sCD95 may be one of the factors that regulate apoptotic death of lymphocytes in HIV infection.     

A diffusible lymphokine produced by CD8+ T lymphocytes suppresses HIV replication.

Peripheral blood CD8+ T lymphocytes from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals suppress replication of HIV in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). This anti-viral activity appears to be mediated in part by a diffusible factor. Production of this lymphokine varies among infected individuals and may reflect the intrinsic ability of an individual's CD8+ cells to control HIV infection. In some cases in which factor activity is not apparent, contact of the CD8+ cells with infected CD4+ cells can produce for suppression of virus replication. These observations could lead to approaches for enhancing anti-viral responses in HIV-infected individuals.     

Comparison of activation marker and TCR V beta gene product expression by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood and lymph nodes from HIV-infected patients.

Since lymphoid organs constitute the site of active and progressive HIV disease, analysis of their lymphocytes may provide more accurate information on T cell abnormalities than that obtained from studying peripheral blood lymphocytes. The objective of this study was to compare the expressions of activation markers and T cell receptor (TCR) V beta gene products by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in lymph nodes (LN) and peripheral blood (PB) from healthy individuals and asymptomatic HIV-infected patients to determine whether anomalies that could be identified at the HIV replication site could support the hypothesis of T cell activation by HIV-encoded antigens or superantigens. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in paired LN and PB obtained from six healthy controls and five asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals were analysed by flow cytometry, using anti-CD38, anti-HLA-DR and 13 anti-V beta MoAbs that cover, approximately, 45% of the T cell repertoire. Analysis of T cell activation marker expression indicated that the percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells bearing CD38 or CD38 and HLA-DR molecules were higher in patients than in controls and, in patients, higher in LN than in PB. Comparison between the V beta repertoires of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in LN and PB showed that, in each healthy individual, a limited number of V beta families expressed by CD4+ or CD8+ T cells had different repartition in LN and PB, whereas in each HIV+ patient, more V beta families exhibited different distributions and these differences recurred among certain V beta segments, such as V beta 5.3 and V beta 21 in the CD4+ T cell population and V beta 5.2/5.3, V beta 12 and V beta 21 in the CD8+ T cell population. Taken together, these data argue for a skewed TCR repertoire in HIV infection and sustained activation of T cells by HIV-encoded antigens at the site of HIV replication, and further demonstrate that a high proportion of CD4+ T cells are in an activation state that may, indirectly, participate in their functional abnormalities.     

Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 induces expression of fusion regulatory protein (FRP)-1/CD98 on CD4+ T cells: a possible regulatory mechanism of HIV-induced syncytium formation

Syncytium formation is one of major cytopathic effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and requires the interaction of CD4 molecules on uninfected cells with HIV envelope glyoprotein gp120 expressed on HIV-infected cells. Recent evidence suggests chemokine receptors function as fusion cofactors. We have recently found that fusion regulatory protein (FRP)-1/ CD98 is involved in syncytium formation of HIV gp160-expressing U2ME-7 cells and TALL-1 cells persistently infected with HIV. However, resting lymphocytes were found to express no FRP-1 molecule. In this study, we demonstrated that recombinant gp120 (rpg120) has the ability to induce expression of FRP-1 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Three-color flow cytometric analysis showed that rgp120-induced FRP-1 was expressed selectively on CD4⁺ T cells in a dose-dependent manner. FRP-1 expression level was maximum 3 days after addition of rgp120. Anti-CD4 and anti-gp120 antibodies blocked rgp120-induced FRP-1 expression. Co-cultivation of PBMC with HIV-1 gp160-expressing HeLa cells also resulted in the increased expression of FRP-1 on T cells. These results suggest that FRP-1 molecules are induced on CD4⁺ T cells via CD4-gp120 interaction and may play an important role in regulation of HIV-induced syncytium formation. Received: 27 September 1996     

CD4+Ki67+ lymphocytes in HIV-infected patients are effector T cells accumulated in the G1 phase of the cell cycle

Entry into the cell cycle represents a fundamental step before generating an effector immune response. The relationship between the cell cycle and antigen-driven T cell response remains, however, poorly understood in virus infection, including HIV. We have identified a critical fraction of CD4+CD45RO+ memory T lymphocytes that express the Ki67 antigen in chronically HIV-infected patients. A high accumulation of Ki67 protein is detected in CD4+CD45RO+Ki67+ cells that are in the G1 phase of the cell cycle (92 ? 5 %) but not in S and G2 + M phases, in contrast to normal individuals. Of these cells, 20 - 60 % are spontaneously producing IL-2 and IFN-, unlike CD4+CD45RO+ that do not express Ki67. In addition, HIV-p24 antigen is detectable only in a small fraction CD4+Ki67+ cells. In conclusion, CD4+Ki67+ lymphocytes are circulating effector cells accumulated in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and may be involved in the immune surveillance during HIV infection.     

The CD28/HLA-DR expressions on CD4+T but not CD8+T cells are significant predictors for progression to AIDS

To investigate the changes of CD28 and HLA-DR molecules on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells during HIV infection, we classified 130 HIV-infected Koreans into four groups by the CD4 level as follows: group I (> or = 500 cells/mm3), group II (201-499 cells/mm3), group III (51-200 cells/mm3), and group IV (< or = 50 cells/mm3). In CD4+ T cells, the proportion of CD28 expression decreased significantly with the CD4 level while the proportion of HLA-DR expression increased gradually. In particular, the changes of HLA-DR expressions on CD4+ T cells were parallel to the loss of CD28 molecules from stage III to IV. However, the CD28 expression on CD8+ T cells decreased dramatically in the early stage of HIV infection, and the sum and pattern of CD28 and HLA-DR expressions on CD8+ T cells was stable after the first stage. Even though CD28 down-regulation on CD8+ T cells was very severe from the early stage of HIV infection, it might not influence the survival time of HIV-infected Koreans. The sum of the CD28+ subsets and HLA-DR subsets in each T cell was stable in all stages of disease progression. The sums of the CD28+ subsets and HLA-DR+ subsets in CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells were constant as approximately 100% and 55-60% of each T cell. These results suggested that the changes of CD28/HLA-DR expressions on CD4+ T cells were more predictable than those on CD8+ T cells in the evaluation of the disease progression during HIV-infected periods. However, we need further studies to understand why the sum of two molecules in each T cell are constant.     

HIV感染后胃黏膜CD4+、CD8+T细胞数量分布及CD38表达的改变

目的 研究不同感染阶段HIV感染者胃黏膜中CD4+和CD8+T细胞数量和分布情况,及免疫细胞激活状态的改变.方法 有胃黏膜组织活检标本的HIV感染者42例,其中有明确临床分期诊断的36例,另选非HIV感染者胃黏膜组织活检标本10例为对照,利用免疫组织化学方法检测研究对象胃黏膜活检组织中CD4、CD8及CD38的表达,以图像分析系统分析其差异.结果 (1)AIDS患者胃黏膜中CD4+T细胞与对照组和无症状者相比,均显著减少(P(0.01),无症状者多数淋巴滤泡中仍有一定量CD4+T细胞,间质中多呈不均匀聚集分布,统计学与正常对照组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);(2)HIV感染者胃黏膜内CD8+T细胞普遍噬腺体和黏膜上皮,部分病例胃黏膜内CD8+T细胞局部过度增生,与对照组相比,CD8+T细胞在感染者胃黏膜中显著增多(P<0.01),无症状者与AIDS患者CD8+T细胞差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);(3)在HIV感染者胃黏膜内,CD38阳性细胞主要分布于黏膜表层至浅1/3～2/3层,与对照组相比,HIV感染者胃黏膜中CD38表达增强(P<0.01),无症状者与MDS患者CD38表达差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 HIV感染者胃黏膜中CD4+T细胞的数量和分布与疾病进展有密切联系,HIV对CD4+T细胞的感染和破坏导致黏膜免疫系统功能异常,可能是胃黏膜内CD8+T细胞数量增加,CD38表达增强的重要原因之一.     

Triple positivity of HBsAg,anti-HCV antibody,and HIV and their influence on CD4+ lymphocyte levels in the highly HIV infected population of Abeokuta,Nigeria

BackgroundFew studies exist on hospital-based seroprevalence of triple positivity of HIV/HBV/HCV in Nigeria.ObjectivesThe study aimed at determining the triple positivity of HIV, HBsAg and HCV among HIV-infected individuals in Abeokuta, Nigeria and defining the influence of these triple infections on CD4+ counts of HIV-infected individuals as antiretroviral therapy improves in Nigeria.MethodsEnumeration of CD4+ levels in 183 HIV-infected persons was done with Partec Flow Cytometer. Seropositivity of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody was detected with rapid kits.ResultsFrom the result obtained, significance variance (p<0.05) existed between HIV positive persons and persons who tested positive to HIV/HBV/HCV triple infection before and after the commencement of HAART. Of these infections, 31(16.9%) had HBV/HCV/HIV triple infection, while 152(83.1%) had HIV mono infection only, 56(30.6%) had HBV/HIV dual infection only and 43(23.5%) had HCV/HIV dual infection only. Significant variance (p<0.05) also existed between subjects with CD4 counts of <200 cells/µl, 200–499 cells/µl and >500 cells/µl. Highest seroprevalence of HIV (35.0%) was found in age groups 35–44 years and >65 years had the least (2.7%). Significant variance (p<0.05) also existed in the progression of CD4+ lymphocytes cells between subjects with persistent decrease (32.3%) in CD4+ lymphocytes cells and those with fluctuation in their CD4+ lymphocytes cells (12.9%) after the commencement of ART.ConclusionThe study further confirms that triple positivity of HIV/HBV/HCV infection is common in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Testing of these triple infections should be a big concern in the best choice and commencement of ART. Also, the study showed that consistent and prolonged use of HAART had a positive impact on the CD4 count of HIV-infected individuals.     

Increased cytolytic T lymphocyte activity and decreased B7 responsiveness are associated with CD28 down-regulation on CD8+ T cells from HIV-infected subjects.

The CD28 receptor on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells interacts with B7 molecules on antigen-presenting cells (APC) to generate essential costimulatory signals. The cytolytic potential of CD8+ T cells could be linked to CD28 expression. Since HIV induces dysfunction of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, we evaluated CD28 expression and function in both subsets during HIV infection. CD28 expression on CD8+ T cells from HIV+ subjects was strongly reduced in a disease stage-related fashion. CD28- CD8+ T cells preferentially expressed CD57 and CD11b, but lacked CD26 and IL-2R alpha. The CD8+ T cells from the patients showed a significantly reduced proliferative response to co-stimulation with cell-bound anti-CD3 and B7. Nevertheless, when stimulated with plate-fixed anti-CD3, CD8+ T cells from HIV-infected subjects proliferated normally, and normal levels of IL-2R alpha and transferrin-receptor could be induced on CD28- CD8+ T cells from the patients. In addition, stimulation with plate-fixed anti-CD3 induced proliferative responses in highly purified CD28- CD8+ T cells from both HIV- and HIV+ persons. Furthermore, the increased cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HIV+ subjects, measured in an anti-CD3 redirected assay, was predominantly exerted by CD28- CD57+ T cells. CD4+ T cells from the patients showed a slight but significant CD28 down-regulation and were slightly hyporesponsive to B7 co-stimulation. Decrease of CD28 on CD8+ T cells from HIV+ subjects is associated with an impaired response to co-stimulation via B7. CD28- CD8+ T cells from seropositives, however, are not completely inert, since they contain in vivo activated CTL and they can be additionally activated through a B7-independent stimulation.