title: Regulatory dysfunction of the interleukin-7 receptor in CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients--effects of antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: Despite an increase in plasma IL-7 levels, the CD4 T-cell pool decrease progressively in HIV-infected patients. Here we report on our tests to check the hypothesis that defects in the IL-7 receptor system might be involved in this phenomenon. The cell surface expression of CD127 was measured ex vivo in CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes drawn from 3 groups of HIV patients. IL-7 function was also followed in vitro by measuring IL-7-driven T-cell proliferation, the induction of the CD25 activation marker, and overexpression of the antiapoptotic molecule Bcl-2. Untreated viremic patients showed a slight but significant decrease in CD127 expression on the surface of their CD4 lymphocytes. By contrast, CD127 expression was substantially altered on the surface of CD8 T lymphocytes taken from untreated viremic patients. IL-7-induced overexpression of the antiapoptotic molecule Bcl-2 was dramatically altered in viremic patients, whereas IL-7-dependent CD25 induction and T-cell proliferation were reduced. Highly active antiretroviral therapy partially corrected these defects in patients with an undetectable viral load and CD4 counts of more than 400 cells/microL. The effects of HAART were less pronounced in patients with undetectable VL but low CD4 counts (<250 cells/microL). The IL-7 receptor is dysfunctional in the CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes of HIV-infected patients. This may be due to abnormal activation of the immune system in HIV-infected patients and may contribute to the reduced CD4 count and the altered function of the CD8 compartment.
authors.affiliation: Unité Immunogénétique Cellulaire, Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Hervé
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Colle
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontanet
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lambotte
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joussemet
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacod
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Delfraissy
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thèze
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015851:Interleukin-7; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7