title: Effect of long-term infection with nef-defective attenuated HIV type 1 on CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes: increased CD45RO+CD4+ T lymphocytes and limited activation of CD8+ T lymphocytes.
abstract: Members of the Sydney Blood Bank Cohort (SBBC) have been infected with an attenuated strain of HIV-1 with a natural nef/LTR mutation and have maintained relatively stable CD4+ T lymphocyte counts for 14-18 years. Flow cytometric analysis was used to examine the phenotype of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in these subjects, including the immunologically important naive (CD45RA+CD62L+), primed (CD45RO+), and activated (CD38+HLA-DR+ and CD28-) subsets. The median values were compared between the SBBC and control groups, comprising age-, sex-, and transfusion-matched HIV-1-uninfected subjects; transfusion-acquired HIV-1-positive LTNPs; and sexually acquired HIV-1-positive LTNPs. Members of the SBBC not only had normal levels of naive CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, but had primed CD45RO+ CD4+ T lymphocytes at or above normal levels. Furthermore, these primed cells expressed markers suggesting recent exposure to specific antigen. SBBC members exhibited variable activation of CD8+ T lymphocytes. In particular, SBBC members with undetectable plasma HIV-1 RNA had normal levels of activated CD8+ T lymphocytes. Therefore, the result of long-term infection with natural nef/LTR mutant HIV-1 in these subjects suggests a decreased cytopathic effect of attenuated HIV-1 on susceptible activated CD4+ T lymphocyte subsets in vivo, and minimal activation of CD8+ T lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immunology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia. j.zaunders@cfi.unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zaunders
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Geczy
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Dyer
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cooley
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Ashton
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Raynes-Greenow
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Learmont
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003673:Defective Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015754:Genes, nef / Q000235:genetics*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D012367:RNA, Viral