[Subsets of CD8+ T cells in longterm asymptomatic vertically HIV-1 infected children].
OBJECTIVE
HIV-infection has distinct patterns of disease progression with heterogeneous manifestations. We analyzed the subsets of CD8+ T cells in a group of long term asymptomatic (LTA) HIV-1-infected children who had stable CD4+ T cell counts (> 600/l).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study in HIV-1-vertically infected children older than 7 years who were rated into two groups according to the clinical and immunological classification: a) LTA: 7 asymptomatic HIV-1-infected children in A1, and b) rapid progressor (PR): 14 age-matched C3 HIV-1-infected children. Controls included 17 age-matched uninfected children. Characterization of CD8+ T-cell subsets was done by three-color flow cytometry.


RESULTS
LTA children displayed similar values of memory CD8+ T cells (CD8+CD45RO+, CD8+CD45RA-CD28+, CD8+ CD45RA-CD62L+) as controls but lower than PR children. LTA patients also showed similar values of naïve CD8+ T cells (CD8+CD45RA+CD62L+, CD8+CD45RA+CD28+, CD8+CD45RA+, CD8+CD28+ and CD8+CD62L+) as controls but higher values than PR children. The values of CD8+CD38+ T cells were similar in LTA and controls but lower in PR. However, LTA children had higher values of CD8+HLA-DR+CD38+ and CD8+HLA-DR+ T cells than controls. Additionally, LTA patients had higher values of pre-effector CD8+ T cells than controls yet the values of effector CD8+ T-cells were similar in both LTA and controls. Moreover, the LTA group had lower values of CD8+CD11b+ T cells than controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Asymptomatic HIV-1 infected children have an almost normal CD8+ subset distribution, with the exception of activated and pre-effector CD8+ T cells which were higher.
Resino
Salvador
S
Laboratorio de Inmunobiología Molecular. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón. Madrid. Spain.
Bellón
José M
JM
Pérez
Alicia
A
Gurbindo Gutiérrez
M Dolores
MD
Muñoz-Fernández
M Angeles
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets