Comparison of CD8(+) T-cell subsets in HIV-infected rapid progressor children versus non--rapid progressor children.
BACKGROUND
CD8(+) T-cell subsets have not been adequately described in HIV-infected (HIV(+)) children classified with respect to disease progression as rapid-progressors (RPs) and non-rapid progressors (non-RPs).


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the distribution of CD8(+) T-cell subsets in HIV(+) children and correlate the findings with degree of immunosuppression and HIV viral burden.


METHODS
By means of 3-color flow cytometry, percentages of CD38(+)DR(+), CD28(+), and CD57(+) CD8(+) T-cell subsets were examined in RP (n = 15) and non-RP (n = 36) HIV(+) children and in HIV-exposed but uninfected (n = 11) and HIVunexposed (n = 8) children. The CD8(+) T-cell subsets were correlated with mean CD4(+) T-cell percentages and HIV RNA levels. Analysis of covariance was used for group comparisons for the control of the covariate of age.


RESULTS
The HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed controls were not different from each other in CD8(+) T-cell subset percentages, except that the DR(-)CD38(+)CD8(+) T-cell percentages were higher in the exposed controls than in the unexposed controls. RPs had a higher mean percentage of DR(+)CD38(+)CD8(+) T cells than non-RPs and both control groups, and RPs had higher viremia than non-RPs. CD38(+)CD8(+) T-cell percentages did not correlate with viral burden as it has been seen to do in HIV(+) adults. Percentages of CD28(+)CD8(+) T cells were lower in HIV-infected children than in controls. There was a positive correlation of percentage of CD28(+)CD57(-)CD8(+) T cells with CD4(+) T-cell percentages in each HIV-infected group.


CONCLUSIONS
CD8(+) T cells become activated (dual expression of DR and CD38) and lose CD28, some acquiring CD57, in relation to rapidity of disease progression in pediatric HIV infection.
Paul
M E
ME
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Shearer
W T
WT
Kozinetz
C A
CA
Lewis
D E
DE
D036541:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D020276:HIV Long-Term Survivors; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007223:Infant; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009244:NAD+ Nucleosidase; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets; D019562:Viral Load
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D036541:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase; C498154:CD38 protein, human; D009244:NAD+ Nucleosidase; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1