[Characterization of HIV-1 Gag-specific proliferative T cell responses in Chinese HIV-1 infected patients].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the characteristics of HIV-1 Gag-specific T lymphocyte proliferative responses in Chinese HIV infected patients, analyze their associations with disease progression and explore the mechanism of the HIV-specific immune dysfunction in HIV infection.


METHODS
Specific proliferative responses of PBMC from thirty four HIV-1 infected patients to HIV-1 Gag antigen were detected by a BrdU incorporated flow cytometry intracellular stain, their relations with CD4(+) T cells absolute counts, plasma viral loads and CD8(+) T cell activate status were analyzed.


RESULTS
HIV-1 Gag-specific CD4(+) T cell proliferative responses of HIV-infected patients were significantly lower than that of healthy controls (P < 0.01), correlated inversely to CD38 expression on CD8(+) T lymphocytes and plasma viral loads (P < 0.05, P < 0.05), and directly to CD4(+) T cell absolute counts (P < 0.01). HIV-1 Gag-specific CD8(+) T cell proliferative responses of HIV-infected patients were significantly higher than that of healthy controls (P < 0.01), correlated directly to CD38 expression on CD8(+) T lymphocytes (P < 0.05), and inversely to CD4(+) T cell absolute counts (P < 0.01), but not correlated to viral loads (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV-1 Gag-specific T cell proliferative response were abnormal in Chinese HIV-1 infected persons, HIV-1 Gag-specific CD4(+) T cell proliferative responses were decreased and their frequencies were closely correlated with disease progression.
Wang
Qi
Q
Key Laboratory of Immunology of AIDS, Ministry of Health, the 1st Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
Shang
Hong
H
Wang
Ya-nan
YN
Zhang
Zi-ning
ZN
Jiang
Yong-jun
YJ
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus