Lack of selective V beta deletion in peripheral CD4+ T cells of human immunodeficiency virus-infected infants.
To investigate the possibility of super-antigen-mediated deletions of T cells expressing particular T cell receptor V beta (TcR V beta) gene segments during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, TcR V beta usage in CD4+ and CD8+ subsets was analyzed in a cohort of infants maternally infected by HIV and in a group of healthy neonates. We used a semi-quantitative anchored polymerase chain reaction technique together with cytofluorographic analysis with anti-V beta monoclonal antibodies. The representation of the 24 V beta families in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from normal neonates was very similar to that in adults. Preferential expression of V beta 2 in the CD4+ subset was observed in both the neonates and in healthy adults. The representation of the 24 V beta families in peripheral CD4+ T cells from the HIV-infected infants showed no selective V beta deletion, even when the CD4+ subset was globally depleted. Moreover, the main characteristics of the control group (predominance of certain V beta families and V beta 2 skewing towards the CD4+ subset) were also present in all the HIV-infected infants.
Bahadoran
P
P
INSERM U132, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
Rieux-Laucat
F
F
Le Deist
F
F
Blanche
S
S
Fischer
A
A
de Villartay
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015870:Gene Expression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta