Dichotomy of two CD8+ lymphocyte subsets in HIV infection. Depletion of CD8+ CD3- and expansion of CD8+ CD3+ subsets: consequence on the CD4/CD8 ratio.
In order to highlight the underlying mechanism(s) of the CD8 lymphocyte expansion in the HIV infection, two distinct CD8 subsets were analysed: T CD8bright+ CD3+ with MHC-restricted activity, and non-T CD8dim+ CD3-, which performs natural killer (NK) activity. It consists of a cross-sectional study including 168 HIV-infected patients (74 CDC stage II, 48 CDC stage III and 46 CDC stage IV) compared among them and to 60 healthy individuals. We observed an expansion of CD8+ CD3+ cells which masks a depletion of CD8+ CD3-. The comparative study showed that the expansion of the CD8+ CD3+ is relatively higher than that of total CD8+ lymphocytes and that the depletion of the CD8+ CD3- subset is severe, begins early and remains constant through the HIV progression. The comparison of CD4/CD8 and CD4/CD8+ CD3+ ratios showed that the latter could possibly be a better indicator in the HIV infection. The mechanism of inverted CD4/CD8 ratio in healthy individuals was also clarified. The CD8+ CD3+, CD8+ CD3- and CD4/CD8+ CD3+ parameters would be more specific markers than total CD8 and CD4/CD8 ratio especially in therapy trials.
Mansour
I
I
Institut National de Transfusion Sanguine, Paris, France.
Doinel
C
C
Rouger
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell