title: Flow cytometry evaluation of the T-cell receptor Vbeta repertoire among HIV-1 infected individuals before and after antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: HIV-1 infection leads to serious impairment of the immune system and perturbations in the T cell receptor Vbeta repertoire are also described. Immune reconstitution can be potentially achieved in response to HAART. In the present study 10 patients were investigated for the Vbeta pattern expression before and after six months of HAART. TCR were analyzed for T CD4+ and CD8+ subsets, separately, by flow cytometry, using a monoclonal antibody set of 24 different Vbeta chains. Compared to eight Brazilian healthy controls, no differences in Vbeta pattern of expression was observed for patients before or on antiretroviral therapy. Some chains such as Vbeta 3, 14, 16, 20 and 21.3 were over utilized by both T subsets, independently of HIV infection and/or antiretroviral treatment, differing from the ones described for individuals of other nationalities. However, when each patient was taken individually, particular alterations were detected for the Vbeta gene usage, compared to controls, for all individuals. After treatment, significant Vbeta usage changes were observed for seven patients. One or more chains on both T subsets were engaged in this process, defining a preferential oligoclonal profile for TCR repertoire distribution, after HAART. Although no pattern of specific Vbeta changes was detected in the circulating T cells, we cannot exclude that differential immune responses to HIV or other important antigens are being focused by these cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of AIDS and Molecular Immunology, Department of Immunology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carmem Beatriz Wagner
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Giacoia-Gripp
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: Maria Clara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Galhardo
authors.forename: Mariza Gonçalves
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Morgado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta