CCR5 and CCR3 expression on T CD3+ lymphocytes from HIV/Leishmania co-infected subjects.
CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) and CC chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3) are membrane-bound proteins involved in HIV-1 entry into susceptible cells. All T lymphocyte subsets display CCR5 and CCR3 on their membrane surface. T helper 1 cells are known to express CCR5 but not CCR3, and most of T cells expressing CCR3 are T helper 2. This study aimed to assess the expression of CCR5 and CCR3 on peripheral blood CD3+ T lymphocytes of HIV-Leishmania co-infected individuals. A total of 36 subjects were enrolled; nine had HIV-Leishmania co-infection; nine were HIV-infected without Leishmania, nine had visceral leishmaniasis without HIV co-infection and nine were healthy blood donors. HIV-Leishmania co-infected subjects showed a significantly higher rate of CCR5+CD3+ T lymphocytes in comparison with the other studied groups. The higher rate of CD3+ T-cells expressing CCR5 found in HIV-Leishmania co-infected subjects may be related to the role of Leishmania as an enhancer of the progression to AIDS.
Nigro
L
L
Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Catania University, Catania, Italy. nigrolu@unict.it
Rizzo
M L
ML
Vancheri
C
C
La Rosa
R
R
Mastruzzo
C
C
Tomaselli
V
V
Ragusa
A
A
Manuele
R
R
Cacopardo
B
B
D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D054397:Receptors, CCR3 / Q000032:analysis*; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
C515350:CCR3 protein, human; D017252:CD3 Complex; D054397:Receptors, CCR3; D019713:Receptors, CCR5