title: Lymph node expansion of CD4+ lymphocytes during antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: The evolution of lymphocyte subsets was analyzed in sequential lymph nodes (LN) biopsies and compared with that in the blood of 25 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. An average of 3 biopsies were obtained from each patient, with a mean follow-up of 5.6 +/- 0.6 months. A correlation was found between the CD4:CD8 ratio in blood and in LN at baseline but not after > or = 2 months of therapy. With therapy, there was a significant increase in CD2+ cells and a much higher CD4+ cell increase and CD8+ cell decrease in LNs compared with levels in blood. A subset of patients had increased expression of Ki-67 and a decreased expression of CD8CD38 or CD3HLA-DR. Expanded CD4+ cells in LNs were mainly CD45RO+, and changes were concomitant with a decrease in LN virus load. These data demonstrate that CD4 cell reconstitution in HIV-1 infection takes place primarily in secondary lymphoid organs and is not related to a simple redistribution of cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, General Hospital, Toulon, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lafeuillade
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chouraqui
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hittinger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poggi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delbeke
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018801:CD2 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D054562:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D054562:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1