Alterations of natural killer cell and T-lymphocyte counts in adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus through blood and plasma sold in the past in China and in whom infection has progressed slowly over a long period.
Natural killer (NK) cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, and T lymphocytes were analyzed by using a flow cytometer in 225 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals infected through the past sale of blood and plasma without receiving antiretroviral therapy in the People's Republic of China. According to CD4 T-cell counts these HIV-infected adults were stratified into three groups: long-term slow progressors, HIV-infected subjects, and AIDS patients. NK cell counts in long-term slow progressors were higher compared to HIV infection and AIDS patients (P < 0.05) and lower compared to normal controls (P < 0.05), whereas NKT cell counts in slow progressors and the HIV infection group were not different from those of normal controls. NK cell counts in HIV-seropositive subjects were positively correlated with CD4 T-cell counts (P < 0.05), and NKT cell counts were positively correlated with CD4 T-cell and CD8 T-cell counts (P < 0.05). The CD8 T-cell counts were higher in slow progressors compared to those with HIV infection, AIDS patients, and normal controls. These results indicated that HIV infection causes alterations of NK cells and T cells in slow progressors, HIV-infected subjects, and AIDS patient groups, but no difference was found in NKT cell counts and percentages in slow progressors and the HIV-infected group compared to normal controls.
Jiang
Yongjun
Y
Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, N0.155, Nanjing North St., Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, People's Republic of China.
Shang
Hong
H
Zhang
Zining
Z
Diao
Yingying
Y
Dai
Di
D
Geng
Wenqing
W
Zhang
Min
M
Han
Xiaoxu
X
Wang
Yanan
Y
Liu
Jing
J
D000328:Adult; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002681:China; D018450:Disease Progression; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D019562:Viral Load; D017735:Virus Latency / Q000276:immunology