Effect of HIV-1 infection on lymphocyte proliferation in gut-associated lymphoid tissue.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the change in the percentage of proliferative and activated lymphocytes in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in HIV-1-infected subjects compared with that in uninfected controls.


METHODS
We measured the percentage of proliferative (Ki-67+) and activated (CD-69+, HLA-DR+, CD45RO+) lymphocytes from GALT and peripheral blood in chronically HIV-1-infected (12) and uninfected (9) individuals.


RESULTS
The percentage of proliferative GALT CD4+ T cells was increased in HIV-1-infected control subjects compared with that in uninfected controls (p <.007). Based on immunohistochemical staining, proliferative T cells were principally located in the parafollicular area surrounding lymphoid aggregates. The percentage of activated GALT lymphocytes, however, was not significantly different in HIV-1-infected individuals, whereas it was significantly increased in the peripheral blood of HIV-1-infected individuals. The percentage of peripheral blood lymphocytes trafficking to the intestine was also not significantly different in HIV-1-infected individuals compared with that in uninfected controls.


CONCLUSIONS
CD4+ T cell proliferation in GALT is increased in HIV-1 infection without a significant alteration in the percentage of peripheral blood T cells trafficking to the gastrointestinal mucosa.
Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York City, New York, USA. aht2002@pop.med.cornell.edu
A H
AH
Talal
C E
CE
Irwin
D T
DT
Dieterich
H
H
Yee
L
L
Zhang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000378:metabolism
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7