Viral load and CD69 molecule expression on freshly isolated and cultured mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes of children with perinatal HIV-1 infection.
HIV-1 in adults changes the proportion of mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes expressing the CD69 activation molecule, but little is known about this molecule expression on lymphocytes of HIV-1-infected (HIV-1+) children. Freshly isolated CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+ and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes co-expressing CD69 were investigated cross-sectionally (adopting a MoAb double-staining technique) in 24 HIV-1+ children with severe disease and given anti-retroviral therapy and in 24 age-matched healthy children. CD69 results in HIV-1+ children were correlated with plasma HIV-1 RNA load prospectively determined. HIV-1+ compared with healthy children had higher frequencies of freshly isolated CD3+CD69+ (2.4 +/- 2.2% versus 0.9 +/- 0.5%; P = 0.002) and CD8+CD69+ (1.5 +/- 1.1% versus 0. 5 +/- 0.2%; P < 0.0001) lymphocytes. The frequencies of CD4+CD69+ and CD19+CD69+ lymphocytes were similar. High viral load correlated with an elevated proportion of freshly isolated CD3+CD69+ and CD8+CD69+ lymphocytes. HIV-1+ children showed reduced frequencies of PHA-stimulated CD3+CD69+ (60.7 +/- 7.6% versus 86.1 +/- 7.6%; P < 0. 001), CD4+CD69+ (73.6 +/- 18.2% versus 92.6 +/- 5.1%; P < 0.001), and CD8+CD69+ (51.0 +/- 19.1% versus 65.3 +/- 15.4%; P = 0.007) lymphocytes. Virologic worsening within 6 months correlated with a low proportion of PHA-stimulated CD3+CD69+ and CD8+CD69+ lymphocytes. CD69 molecule expression reflected the coexistence of immune activation and immune deficiency in HIV-1 infection. Changes partly differed from those observed in HIV-1+ adults. CD8+CD69+ (but not CD4+CD69+) lymphocyte proportion correlated with virologic course, and an impaired ability of CD8+ lymphocytes to express CD69 upon PHA stimulation preceded a virologic worsening.
De Martino
M
M
Department of Medicine, Section of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy. mdm@ao-meyer.toscana.it
Rossi
M E
ME
Azzari
C
C
Gelli
M G
MG
Chiarelli
F
F
Galli
L
L
Vierucci
A
A
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D018743:Perinatal Care; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008934:Mitogens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D000099192:CD69 Antigens