Spontaneous apoptosis, oxidative status and immunophenotype markers in blood lymphocytes of AIDS patients.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 251 HIV-positive drug abusers of known clinical stage and from 40 healthy donors were tested for conventional immunologic markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD14, CD16/CD56, CD45 and HLA-DR). Additional cell parameters and the occurrence of spontaneous apoptosis (programmed cell death) were investigated on freshly isolated PBMC by flow cytometric measurement of either annexin-V bound to plasma membrane phosphatidylserine or propidium iodide uptake. The activity of gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT), an ectoenzyme contributing to the synthesis of the intracellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH) and involved in early apoptosis, was also determined in these cells. Immunocompetent T-cell counts were lower in HIV+ patients, with the exception of CD8+ and HLA-DR+ lymphocytes. The external binding of annexin-V was significantly higher in HIV+ PBMC and occurred in both CD8+ and CD4+ T-lymphocyte subsets. The activity of gamma-GT, was significantly lower in the PBMC from HIV+ patients, indicating that the redox status of PBMC may be affected in HIV+ individuals. Finally, the most dominant features characterising patients receiving antiretroviral therapy were greater long-term stability in the distribution of various cell parameters excepted the level of apoptosis.
Laboratorio di Patologia Cellulare, Istituto Cantonale di Patologia, Locarno, Switzerland. glosa@guest.cscs.ch
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D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D017209:Apoptosis; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D017304:Annexin A5; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D005978:Glutathione