title: Dysregulation of the interleukin-2 receptor alpha- and beta-chain expression in CD4 and CD8 T cells in HIV infection.
abstract: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were prepared from human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV+) individuals (n = 46) to investigate the expression of both chains of the interleukin-2 receptor. Both qualitative and quantitative changes in expression were observed. Total lymphocyte expression of the IL-2 alpha chain (CD25) was decreased compared with HIV-negative (HIV-) controls. This was due to the decrease in the CD4+ population, which favored expression of this receptor, rather than a decrease in expression, per se. CD8+ lymphocytes expressed the beta chain (CD122) in the absence of the alpha chain. However, a significant increase in the number of peripheral blood CD8+ lymphocytes expressing mainly the beta subunit was observed in HIV+ patients (P = 0.02). This was observed to a similar extent in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients and characterized a subpopulation of T lymphocytes expressing high levels of CD8. Lymphocytes from patients with advanced HIV disease failed to up-regulate both alpha and beta chains in response to mitogenic concentrations of phytohaemagglutanin. However, those cells that were able to up-regulate both of the IL-2 receptors were capable of effective signal transduction through the receptor, increasing the proliferative response to stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, St. Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, West Smithfield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Parkin
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010641:Phenotype; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2