title: CD8+ lymphocytes in pregnancy and HIV infection: characterization of CD8+ subpopulations and CD8+ noncytotoxic antiviral activity.
abstract: The distribution and function of lymphocytes vary in different clinical states. The object of this study was to characterize the CD8+ lymphocyte subpopulations and CD8+ anti-HIV suppressor activity in HIV-infected and uninfected pregnant and nonpregnant women. The total percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes was not altered by pregnancy but the percentage of activated CD8+ T cells increased during pregnancy and decreased postpartum. HIV infection in pregnant women resulted in both an increased percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes and a marked increase in activated and memory CD8+ lymphocyte subsets, which did not change in the postpartum period. Most HIV-infected women had CD8+-mediated noncytotoxic antiviral activity. However, the activity was not correlated with alterations in CD8+ lymphocyte subsets. This study provides baseline information on changes in CD8 immunologic parameters during pregnancy and HIV infection for further studies that employ antiretroviral therapeutic regimens capable of impacting the immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60612, USA.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rydman
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Landay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D014779:Virus Replication