Immunologic abnormalities related to antigenaemia during HIV-1 infection.
The expression of phenotypic markers on T and B lymphocytes in long-term human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) seropositive, antigen negative patients, in seropositive, antigen positive individuals without AIDS and in seronegative intravenous drug abusers was examined by two colour flow cytometry. Seropositive, antigen positive patients showed decreased CD4+ lymphocyte numbers, causing lower CD4/CD8 ratios when compared to seropositive, antigen negative subjects. While CD4 CDw29+ (4B4) lymphocytes are selectively reduced in seropositive, antigen negative individuals, both CD4 CDw29+ and CD4 CD45R+ (2H4) lymphocytes are decreased when antigenaemia is present. An increased percentage of CD3 HLA DR+ activated T lymphocytes and of CD20+ (B1) Leu 8 negative activated B cells was seen in HIV-1 seropositive antigen positive patients. These results demonstrate that, in long-term seropositive individuals, antigenaemia is associated with peculiar phenotypic changes of lymphocyte subsets.
De Paoli
P
P
Department of Microbiology, General Hospital, Pordenone, Italy.
Battistin
S
S
Crovatto
M
M
Modolo
M L
ML
Carbone
A
A
Tirelli
U
U
Santini
G
G
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015488:HIV Antigens