Peripheral gamma delta T-cell populations in HIV-infected individuals with mycobacterial infection.
Previous studies have suggested that gamma delta T cells can be increased in HIV-1-seropositive individuals, although characterization of gamma delta T cell subtypes and correlation with clinical status of these patients have not been performed. We investigated groups of HIV-seropositive persons to determine the prevalence of elevated levels of gamma delta T cells and whether any gamma delta T cell subtypes were preferentially expressed. Since a large proportion of human gamma delta T cells appear to be reactive to proteins encoded by mycobacteria, we also examined our patients for the incidence of mycobacterial infection. Our results show that a significant number of HIV-positive patients have an elevated number of gamma delta T cells in their peripheral blood as compared to normal controls. HIV-seropositive patients with clinical or laboratory evidence of mycobacterial infection had statistically significant increases in the percentage and total numbers of gamma delta T cells over the HIV-positive persons without mycobacterial infection. An examination of the subtypes of gamma delta T cells revealed that certain subtypes such as V gamma 9+ and V delta 2+ T cells were preferentially elevated in the mycobacteria-positive patients. These results suggest that an increased number of gamma delta T cells in HIV-positive patients is most often seen in the setting of an opportunistic mycobacterial infection and that specific gamma delta T cell subtypes are stimulated under these conditions. The role of these increased number of gamma delta T cells in HIV-associated disease is unclear but is likely a component of the response and degree of host resistance to this organism.
Ruiz
P
P
Department of Pathology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida.
Geraldino
N
N
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta