title: Quantitative analysis of CD6, CD4 and CD8 cell surface molecules compared to the absolute numbers of CD6+, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells in peripheral blood in patients with HIV-infection.
abstract: T lymphocyte subsets were determined on blood samples from 16 HIV-seropositive patients with manifest AIDS (CDC IV), 24 HIV-seropositive patients with lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS, CDC III), 16 HIV-seropositive clinical healthy persons (CDC II) and 11 HIV-seronegative homosexuals as control group. Absolute numbers of T-cells (CD6+), T-helper/inducer-cells (CD4+) and T-suppressor/cytotoxic-cells (CD8+), obtained by immunofluorescence staining were compared with the absolute amount of subset specific surface molecules, obtained by a T-cell-ELISA. With both, indirect immunofluorescence technique and ELISA technique a highly significant decrease of the absolute numbers of CD4+ cells and the absolute amount of CD4 surface molecules, respectively, was found in asymptomatic HIV-infection, LAS and in manifest AIDS. In all HIV-seropositive groups the relative decrease of CD4 surface molecules was significantly greater than the decline of CD4+ cells. This phenomenon however was not seen in HIV-seronegative homosexuals. The absolute number of CD6+ cells and the amount of CD6 surface molecules were found significantly lowered in AIDS compared to HIV-seronegative homosexuals. No significant changes were found for CD8+ cell numbers and CD8 surface molecule in the progression of the HIV-infection.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Immunologie, Universität München, FRG.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Endl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fröschl
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Rieber
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Ziegler-Heitbrock
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riethmüller
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D002452:Cell Count; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015704:CD4 Antigens; C062279:CD6 antigen; D016827:CD8 Antigens