HIV infection leads to differential expression of T-cell receptor V beta genes in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse variation in T-cell receptor (TCR) V beta gene expression in T cells in HIV-infected individuals.


METHODS
Because there are very few monoclonal antibodies available for studying TCR V beta gene expression, we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyse the TCR V beta repertoire in HIV-infected individuals using specific primers for 20 distinct families of TCR V beta.


METHODS
Evaluation of TCR V beta gene expression in peripheral blood from HIV-1-infected individuals [two in Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stage II, five in CDC stage III and four in CDC stage IV]. Complementary DNA was produced from CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, amplified by PCR and analysed after Southern blotting and hybridization with a C beta-specific oligonucleotide probe.


RESULTS
V beta gene expression was dramatically modified, especially in AIDS patients. The CD4+ T-cell subset showed both overexpression (V beta 2) and deletions or underexpression (V beta 9-V beta 20), whereas these gene segments were expressed normally in the CD8+ subset. Only V beta 3 was deleted or underexpression in both CD4+ and CD8+ populations in AIDS patients.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV-1 infection induces CD4+ T-cell deficiency, both in total numbers and by causing a paucity of select V beta gene expression in this subset. In addition, the V beta 3 gene family was deleted or underexpressed was observed in both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets from patients in CDC stage IV. These results are compatible with changes in V beta gene expression known to occur under the action of endogenous or exogenous superantigens.
Hodara
V L
VL
Department of Immunology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Jeddi-Tehrani
M
M
Grunewald
J
J
Andersson
R
R
Scarlatti
G
G
Esin
S
S
Holmberg
V
V
Libonatti
O
O
Wigzell
H
H
D001483:Base Sequence; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D015342:DNA Probes; D015870:Gene Expression; D015488:HIV Antigens; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015342:DNA Probes; D015488:HIV Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D004247:DNA