title: Loss of mucosal CD4 lymphocytes is an early feature of HIV infection.
abstract: T cell subsets in the gut mucosa are distinct populations and their imbalance in HIV has specific implications in infection. Alterations in T cell subsets in duodenal biopsies were investigated in 17 asymptomatic HIV patients, 24 AIDS patients and 10 controls with non-ulcer dyspepsia. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence using MoAbs to CD3, CD4, CD8, CD68, CD45RA, CD45RO and gp120 were performed on frozen sections. In the lamina propria, there was a significant depletion of CD4+ cells at all stages of HIV, but the density of CD8 lamina propria cells was increased. Intraepithelial lymphocytes were decreased in AIDS patients. There was a significant correlation between cellular density and mucosal CD3+ lymphocytes, and between mucosal CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. Although mucosal CD4,CD45RO+ 'memory' cells were decreased, CD8,CD45RO+ 'memory' cells were increased. Mucosal CD4+ lymphocyte depletion occurred early in HIV, and thus their role in mucosal protection against opportunistic infection should be revised. Mucosal CD8+ lymphocytes initially increased, but decreased when CD4 blood counts were depleted, perhaps contributing to loss of host protection against infection. Intraepithelial lymphocyte depletion may also contribute to opportunistic infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, School of Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Condez
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Elia
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Poulter
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens