Expression of Adhesion Molecules and CD28 on T Lymphocytes during Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Adhesion molecules, which play a major role in lymphocyte circulation, have not been well characterized in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. T-lymphocyte populations, including CD3, CD4, CD28, and adhesion molecules (L selectin, LFA-1, VLA-4, and ICAM-1) were measured by flow cytometry in a cross-sectional study of 100 HIV-infected and 49 HIV-seronegative adults. HIV-infected adults had lower numbers of CD3⁺ lymphocytes expressing L selectin (P < 0.0001) and VLA-4 (P < 0.01) and higher numbers of CD3⁺ lymphocytes expressing LFA-1^bright (P < 0.002) than did HIV-negative adults. By CD4⁺-lymphocyte count category (>500, 200 to 500, or <200 cells/μl), HIV-infected adults with more advanced disease had lower percentages of CD3⁺ lymphocytes expressing L selectin and VLA-4 and higher percentages of CD3⁺ lymphocytes expressing LFA-1. The percentages of CD3⁺ CD28⁺ lymphocytes and of CD3⁺ L selectin⁺ lymphocytes were positively correlated (Spearman coefficient = 0.86; P < 0.0001), and the percentage of CD3⁺ CD28⁺ lymphocytes and the CD3⁺ LFA-1^bright lymphocyte/CD3⁺ LFA-1^dim lymphocyte ratio were negatively correlated (Spearman coefficient = −0.92; P <0.00001). The results of this study suggest that HIV infection is associated with altered expression of adhesion molecules.