title: Association between HIV-specific T helper responses and CTL activities in pediatric AIDS.
abstract: We examined the relationship between the profile of HIV-specific T helper (Th) cell responses, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity, HIV viral load, and CD4(+) T cell counts during longitudinal studies in children with perinatal HIV infection. Patients with AIDS demonstrated undetectable or low levels of HIV-specific Th and CTL activities, and exhibited almost exclusively Th0 type of responses with low IFN-gamma and IL-4 production. The levels of IL-2 expression in the envelope (env) peptide-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were increased in children with a slowly progressive disease, concomitant with higher numbers of CD45RO(+) memory T cells and increased proportions of Th1 clones. In these patients, high levels of env peptide-specific IL-2 expression correlated with increases in HIV-specific CTL responses, whereas a delay in the generation of HIV-specific CTL activity was associated with lower IL-2 production and elevated Th2 responses. Patients with slow disease progression produced higher levels of beta-chemokines than those detected in children with AIDS. These results suggest that an impaired development of HIV-specific cellular responses and inhibition of T cell differentiation during infancy are associated with fast disease progression. They also point to a protective role of noncytotoxic antiviral activity that might complement HIV-specific CTL responses in children with a slowly progressive disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Wasik
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wierzbicki
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Whiteman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trinchieri
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lischner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kozbor
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000276:immunology; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D019742:Chemokines, CC; D016207:Cytokines; D015686:Gene Products, env; D007376:Interleukin-2