title: PCR analysis of HIV-1 sequences and differential immunological features in seronegative and seropositive haemophiliacs.
abstract: We have compared the immunological features of two matched groups of seronegative and seropositive haemophilia A individuals. Both groups were exposed from 1981 to 1985 to comparable amounts and batches of FVIII concentrates not subjected to virus inactivation procedures, and had therefore a 100% probability of receiving HIV-contaminated material. The presence of proviral HIV-1 sequences was evaluated by PCR in the DNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes and/or monocytes. After hybridization with specific probes, DNA from all seropositive haemophiliacs revealed HIV sequences; no HIV sequences were observed from the DNA of seronegative patients, even after two rounds of amplification, thus suggesting that these patients were not affected by a latent HIV infection. Seronegative/PCR- and seropositive/PCR+ patients showed a normal and reduced number of CD4+ lymphocytes, and a slight and marked increase of CD8+ cells respectively. Activated T cells expressing the HLA-DR antigen were elevated in both groups. Interestingly, a significant reduction of circulating CD56+/CD3- NK lymphocytes was observed only in seropositive haemophiliacs, whereas NK lymphocytes with CD56+/CD3+ phenotype were within normal levels in both groups. In seropositive patients no correlation was found between the number of CD4+ and CD56+/CD3- lymphocytes. The marked reduction of CD56+/CD3- lymphocytes observed in seropositive haemophiliacs in addition to the CD4+ cell depletion may represent a key pathogenetic factor which facilitates the onset and/or the progression of HIV-1 infection in haemophiliacs, and is related to the capacity of HIV to infect NK cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology-Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chelucci
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gringeri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Macioce
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santagostino
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vulcano
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mannucci
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peschle
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens