Close link between CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation defects in patients with human immunodeficiency virus disease and relationship to extended periods of CD4+ lymphopenia.
T cell proliferation failure is commonly associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. By examining T cell function on a single-cell basis, we found that CD4(+) T cell proliferation failure was often accompanied by CD8(+) T cell proliferation defects in patients with HIV disease. The defects are characterized by a proportional failure and reduced efficiency of precursor T cell proliferation after stimulation. In this study, patients who historically had low levels of circulating CD4(+) T cells were most likely to demonstrate cellular proliferation failure, regardless of current CD4(+) T cell counts. In contrast, neither historical nor current plasma HIV RNA levels were predictive of proliferation failure. These results suggest that mechanisms of T cell proliferation failure are more complex than can be explained by the direct effects of HIV replication and that therapeutic intervention to avoid prolonged periods of CD4(+) lymphopenia may be desirable for the preservation of immune function in patients with HIV disease.
Sieg
Scott F
SF
Center for AIDS Research, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA. sfs2@po.cwru.edu
Mitchem
Jonathan B
JB
Bazdar
Douglas A
DA
Lederman
Michael M
MM
D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D018344:T-Lymphocytopenia, Idiopathic CD4-Positive / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
D012367:RNA, Viral