Decreased expression of the membrane inhibitor of complement-mediated cytolysis CD59 on T-lymphocytes of HIV-infected patients.
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of the membrane inhibitor of complement-mediated cytolysis, CD59, on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HIV-infected individuals.


METHODS
CD59 membrane expression was investigated by double immunofluorescent staining on purified PBMC from HIV-infected patients and seronegative controls.


RESULTS
CD59 expression was decreased on peripheral blood T-lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients. Decreased expression of CD59 antigen did not correlate with clinical stage of disease. Low CD59 expression on T-lymphocytes was mediated by several mechanisms, including: (1) decrease in number of CD4+ cells which normally express high amounts of the antigen; (2) relative increase in CD8+ cells, more specifically in CD8+ CD57+ cells expressing a low density of the antigen; (3) loss of or decreased CD59 expression on a subpopulation of CD3+ belonging either to the CD4+ or to the CD8+ subset. Decreased CD59 expression was consistently observed on CD8+ lymphocytes. CD59 expression was normal on patient red blood cells, monocytes and B-lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV infection is associated with a T-cell-specific defect in CD59 membrane expression. Decreased CD59 expression may result in increased susceptibility of T-lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients to complement-mediated lysis.
Weiss
L
L
Service d'Immunologie, INSERM U28, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France.
Okada
N
N
Haeffner-Cavaillon
N
N
Hattori
T
T
Faucher
C
C
Kazatchkine
M D
MD
Okada
H
H
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D018957:CD59 Antigens; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D015870:Gene Expression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D001798:Blood Proteins; D018957:CD59 Antigens; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011506:Proteins