title: CD8+ lymphocyte phenotype and cytokine production in long-term non-progressor and in progressor patients with HIV-1 infection.
abstract: In most HIV-1-infected patients, clinical and immunological progression develops within a few years. Few infected people, termed long-term non-progressors (LTNP), remain healthy and immunologically stable for a long time. The factors governing the maintenance of this condition are not well known, but it is conceivable that CD8+ lymphocytes, cells that play a central role in controlling in vitro HIV replication, may have a part in vivo in this process. The aim of this study was to characterize the phenotypic profile and the cytokine production of CD8+ cells in a group of LTNP patients who had stable CD4+ cell counts (> 500/mm3) for at least 7 years. Their CD8+ absolute numbers were similar to a control group composed of HIV-1+ patients who have a progressive decline of their CD4+ cell counts. However, our multiparameter immunofluorescence studies show that a clinical and immunologically stable condition is associated with the presence of a CD28+, CD95 strongly positive CD8+ population, while disease progression is marked by the CD28-CD95+CD8+ subset. Purified CD8+ cells from LTNP retain their ability to produce IL-2, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and, to a lesser degree, to produce IL-10 and IL-4. In contrast, CD8+ cells from progressors are unable to secrete IL-2 and IL-10. Although CD8+ cytokine profile does not fit with the proposed T helper (Th)1/Th2 switch in progressive HIV infection, LTNP CD8+ T cells maintain their capacity to produce IL-2 and IL-10 (Th0-like), a pattern very similar to that observed in normal HIV healthy controls. We suggest that CD8+ cells expressing CD28, CD95 and having a Th0-like profile may be considered to be associated with long-term survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology-Immunology-Virology, C.R.O. Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zanussi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simonelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caffau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerici
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tirelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: DePaoli
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008297:Male; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D018106:CD28 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D019014:fas Receptor