Profile of T cell immune responses in HIV-infected children from Uganda.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) immunopathogenesis in children remains poorly understood. We assessed T cell immune activation in antiretroviral therapy-naive children in Uganda (n=154). Increased CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation strongly correlated with decreased CD4+ T cell percentage. Interestingly, no correlation between plasma HIV RNA level and T cell activation was observed after controlling for CD4+ T cell count. In addition, the presence of Gag-specific CD4+ T helper responses was associated with increased HIV-specific CD8+ T cells. Understanding the balance between immune activation and T cell immunity in HIV-infected children may provide further insights into the mechanisms leading to effective immune control.
Ssewanyana
Isaac
I
Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda.
Elrefaei
Mohamed
M
Dorsey
Grant
G
Ruel
Theodore
T
Jones
Norman G
NG
Gasasira
Anne
A
Kamya
Moses
M
Nakiwala
Justine
J
Achan
Jane
J
Charlebois
Edwin
E
Havlir
Diane
D
Cao
Huyen
H
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D052118:Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1 / Q000276:immunology; D052119:Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 2 / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D014454:Uganda
D052118:Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1; D052119:Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 2; D007371:Interferon-gamma