T cell selection and differentiation in AIDS disease: the model of HIV-discordant monozygotic twins.
The model of monozygotic twins has been repeatedly studied to control the genetic and age-specific effects on HIV disease. Focusing on this natural model, the expression of CD27/CD45RA differentiation markers and the distribution of the Vbeta TCR repertoire was analyzed on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. In our HIV-discordant monozygotic twins, a significant reduction of naive T cells and a parallel accumulation of effector/memory T cells was induced by HIV infection, as well as a skewing of T cell repertoire evidenced by VbetaTCR analysis. The block of HIV replication by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) restored most of the T cell maturation and selection process, with some exception among CTL differentiation and repertoire. Altogether, the model of HIV-discordant monozygotic twins is a valuable tool showing that HAART is not able to completely restore the CTL profile.
Agrati
C
C
National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Gioia
C
C
Soldani
F
F
Martini
F
F
Antinori
A
A
Poccia
F
F
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010641:Phenotype; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000276:immunology*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta