title: Activation and proliferation of CD8+ T cells in lymphoid tissues of HIV-1-infected individuals in the absence of the high-affinity IL-2 receptor.
abstract: Activation of CD8+ T cells may have important pathogenic implications in HIV-1 infection. Studies of this process have so far been confined to cells from the peripheral blood. In the present study, we have examined molecules involved in activation and proliferation of CD8+ T cells in lymphoid tissues from HIV-1-infected patients. Tonsillar tissue and blood samples from 13 HIV-1-infected patients and 6 seronegative controls were examined for cell surface expression and the presence of mRNA for CD69, CD25, and HLA-DR. Intonsillar tissue, the number of CD8+ T cells was increased several fold in HIV-1-infected patients compared with controls. The majority of these cells expressed CD69 and HLA-DR, but virtually no tonsillar CD8+ T cells were found to express CD25 on the cell surface or at the mRNA level. Following in vitro activation, however, almost all activated CD8+ T cells were found to express CD25. Tonsillar CD4+ T cell numbers were maintained or reduced compared with controls, and a considerable proportion expressed CD25. The data suggest that CD8+, but not CD4+ T cells proliferate extensively in lymphoid tissues in HIV-1-infected patients in the absence of the high-affinity interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Transplantation Immunology, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway. j.e.brinchmann@rh.uio.no
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Brinchmann
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Røsok
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spurkland
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D000099192:CD69 Antigens