Persistent T cell and B cell activities in the duodenal mucosa of AIDS patients.
OBJECTIVE
As HIV infection most commonly occurs via a mucosal surface, and as gastrointestinal symptoms are very frequent among HIV-infected patients, we investigated the functional properties of residual lymphocytes in the duodenal mucosa from HIV-infected individuals.


METHODS
Duodenal biopsies and blood samples were obtained from 19 HIV-infected patients [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stage III] and from 19 controls.


METHODS
Phenotypic analysis of lymphocytes was performed by flow cytometry and/or immunocytochemistry. Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin (IL) 4 and immunoglobulin secretions were analysed by enzyme-linked immunospot techniques. The phenotype of cytokine-producing cells was analysed by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The proportions of duodenal T lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients spontaneously secreting IFN-gamma or IL-4 were not lower than those from healthy controls. In patients with a high intestinal mucosal viral load, they were higher than in controls (P < 0.05). The proportions of immunoglobulin-secreting cells were significantly raised in HIV-infected patients for the three main isotypes.


CONCLUSIONS
T- and B-cell populations of the intestinal mucosa remain functional or are even activated in patients with AIDS, even when the numbers of both mucosal and circulating CD4+ lymphocytes are strongly decreased.
Carol
M
M
Department of Immunology, Hôpital Erasme, Bruxelles, Belgium.
Lambrechts
A
A
Urbain
D
D
van Vooren
J P
JP
Clumeck
N
N
Goldman
M
M
Mascart-Lemone
F
F
D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001706:Biopsy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004386:Duodenum / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
D016207:Cytokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins