title: Analysis of the systemic immune response in HIV-1-infected patients suffering from opportunistic Candida infection.
abstract: Infection by HIV-1 is a major risk factor predisposing for fungal infection. However, few studies have addressed the immunological status of HIV-1 patients suffering fungal infections. This study examines the status of polymorphonuclear phagocytes (PMN) and T cells in HIV-1-infected patients suffering from mucosal Candida infections. These patients had a more immature population of blood PMN, as detected by lower CD18 expression, than HIV asymptomatics or healthy controls. They also had a selective defect in T cell activation in response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), but not to stimulation through the T cell receptor by anti-CD3 crosslinking, when compared to HIV-1 asymptomatic patients. This was shown by a decrease in cellular proliferation and cell surface expression of CD69, CD25 and CD71 activation antigens. There was also a severe impairment of IL-2 production upon activation by PHA. IL-10, and TNF secretion was also reduced, whereas IFN-gamma and IL-5 production was not affected. No correlation with viral load, CD4 or CD8 T cell number or clinical stage was found. In conclusion, our results indicate that Candida-infected HIV patients have a selective defect, independent of viral load, CD4 or clinical status, involving some aspects of T cell activation, IL-2 production being severely impaired.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Punzón
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Resino
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bellón
authors.forename: Ma Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Fernández
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fresno
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018821:CD18 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D008222:Lymphokines; D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine