title: Increased expression of activation markers on CD8 lymphocytes in children with human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection.
abstract: The aims of the present study were to analyze the impact of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection on lymphocyte maturation in children, to determine the expression of activation markers on CD8+ cells, and to define predictors of survival in HIV-infected children. Seventy-one children presenting HIV-related symptoms were included in the study; 29 were less than 2 y old and 42 were 2 to 12 y of age. Results were compared with those obtained in normal children of a similar age. In HIV-infected children the proportion of CD4+ and CD8+CD45RA+ cells was significantly decreased, whereas that of CD8+, CD8+CD38+, and CD8+CD45RO+ cells was strikingly increased compared with controls. In children less than 2 y old the absolute number of CD4+ and CD8+CD45RA+ cells decreased, and the number of CD8+CD45RO+ cells increased significantly, whereas the number of CD8+ and CD8+CD38+ cells did not change. The absolute number of CD4+ T cells declined with age both among controls and among HIV-infected children. In contrast, the absolute number of CD8+ cells and CD8 subsets decreased with age only in controls but not in infected children. In HIV-1-infected children the expression of the CD38 and CD45RO markers on CD8+ cells was significantly correlated, indicating that these were activated cells. The survival of less than 2-y-old children with AIDS symptoms was positively correlated with the total number of CD8 cells and CD8+CD38+ cells at time of entry into the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers