title: The number of CD1a+ large low-density cells with dendritic cell features is increased in the peripheral blood of HIV+ patients.
abstract: Employing a discontinuous Percoll gradient following Ficoll-Hypaque separation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from normal subjects (n = 14) and patients with HIV-1 infection (n = 50), we separated a population of low-density cells consisting of monocytoid cells, lymphocytes, and some granulocytes. In cytospin preparations, less than 5% of the monocytoid cells were positive for nonspecific esterase and CD14. However, CD1a was positive in 5-20% of these cells. Ultrastructurally, CD1a-labeled immunogold particles were demonstrated on the monocytoid cells which bore some features of dendritic cells. Flow cytometry of the low-density cells identified a subset of buoyant, large cell population, which excluded lymphocytes. This large low-density cell (LLDC) population was significantly expanded in patients with HIV infection and comprised 32.3 +/- 21.3% of low-density cells compared to 7.0 +/- 2.8% in normal subjects (P < 0.0001). Of the LLDC population 45.2 +/- 23.4% were CD1a+ in patients compared to 17.5 +/- 13.3% in normal subjects (P < or = 0.0001). HLA-DR and HLA-DQ were coexpressed in approximately 70 and 50% of these CD1a+ LLDC, respectively. A simple nonculture assay method employed by us facilitates rapid screening of infected blood specimens for the CD1a+ large low-density cells with dendritic cell features, which could be an additional parameter to monitor HIV disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York 10003.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ree
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liau
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Yancovitz
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teplitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D002469:Cell Separation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018949:Antigens, CD1