[Effect of opportunistic infections on the frequency of leukocyte subpopulations from type-1 human immunodeficiency virus infected individuals].
BACKGROUND
The presence of opportunistic infections in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome favors the progression of HIV-1 infection. Despite the key role that several leukocyte subpopulations exhibit during the anti-infectious response, few studies have focused on the role of these cells in HIV-1-infected patients with active opportunistic infections.


OBJECTIVE
The quantity of several innate and adaptive cell subpopulations was evaluated in whole peripheral blood of HIV-1-infected patients, with and without a history of opportunistic infections.


METHODS
The absolute number of each leukocyte subpopulation was evaluated by flow cytometry, and for each cell subpopulation, this number was correlated with viral load, CD4+ T cell count and the expression of activation markers on CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes.


RESULTS
Chronically HIV-1 infected patients exhibited a quantitative deficiency in several leukocyte subpopulations; this effect was more pronounced in individuals suffering an active opportunistic infection. This indicated that the coinfection by HIV-1 and opportunistic microorganisms potentiated the immunodeficiency by reducing significantly the frequency of different subpopulations of leukocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
This finding underlines the importance of an early diagnose of HIV-1 infection, and the need for the rational use of antiretroviral medications to avoid the development of opportunistic infections. In addition, it points to the necessity of developing immunotherapy strategies for HIV-1-infected patients in order to re-establish the immune competence.
Ramírez
Zoraida
Z
Grupo de Inmunovirología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
Cataño
Juan Carlos
JC
Román
Alejandro
A
Rugeles
María Teresa
MT
Montoya
Carlos Julio
CJ
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents