title: Significant enlargement of a specific subset of CD3+CD8+ peripheral blood leukocytes mediating cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity during human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: We have obtained a monoclonal antibody termed BY55 that defines an 80-kDa cell-surface structure on a subset of circulating peripheral blood mononucleocytes. This structure, which was not detected on most cell lines or activated lymphocytes, was expressed exclusively on 15-25% of CD2+ circulating lymphocytes, including a major subset within the CD3- and the T-cell receptor gamma delta + lymphocytes and a small percentage of the CD3+CD8+ cells. Moreover, we have shown that the BY55 molecule delineated the competent killer circulating lymphocytes. In the present report, additional two- and three-color immunofluorescence studies of peripheral blood lymphocytes were done to precisely determine BY55 expression within the T-cell population. In normal individuals, peripheral blood CD3+CD8+BY55+ cells represented only 5-6% of the lymphocytes, and these cells possessed cytolytic activity. Interestingly, we found that the percentage of total BY55+ lymphocytes as well as the percentage of CD3+CD8+BY55+ was significantly increased in peripheral blood lymphocytes of human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive individuals.
authors.affiliation: Institut Nationale de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U93, Association Claude Bernard, Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bensussan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rabian
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schiavon
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bengoufa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leca
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boumsell
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016827:CD8 Antigens