Increase in Leu 2+ Leu 7+ lymphocytes in HIV 1-seropositive patients with hemophilia repeatedly treated with clotting factor concentrates.
The fact that patients with hemophilia treated with clotting factor and HIV 1-seronegative subjects with congenital anemias given repeated blood transfusions both have decreased ratios of T4/T8 lymphocytes and diminished NK cell activity indicates that these immunological abnormalities can be due to repeated exposure to blood and blood products, and are not necessarily indicative of HIV 1 infection. To search for an immunological change specific for HIV 1 infection we tested 36 hemophiliacs (22 HIV 1-seropositive, 14 HIV 1-seronegative), and 27 normal subjects for peripheral blood lymphocytes which coexpress Leu 2, a marker associated with suppressor/cytotoxic cells, and Leu 7, an NK cell marker. Compared to normal subjects, seropositive hemophiliacs showed a 2.5-fold increase in Leu 2+ Leu 7+ cells. No increase in this population was seen in the seronegative hemophiliacs. An increase in the percentage of Leu 2+ Leu 7+ cells is therefore an immunological alteration associated with HIV 1 infection but not blood product exposure per se.
Kaplan
J
J
Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan 48201.
Sarnaik
I
I
Lusher
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors