CD38+CD8+ T-cells negatively correlate with CD4 central memory cells in virally suppressed HIV-1-infected individuals.
OBJECTIVE
Studies have found that CD8 T-cell activation, as measured by CD38 expression, in HIV-1-infected individuals on suppressive therapy for longer than 12 months is not predictive of CD4 T-cell recovery. Owing to the fact that reconstitution of memory and naive T-cell populations occurs differentially over time, this study evaluated whether distinct memory/naive CD4 T-cell subsets correlated with CD38 on CD8 T-cells.


METHODS
Whole blood from 13 participants was used to evaluate activation phenotypic markers on CD8 lymphocytes and memory/naive phenotypes on CD4 lymphocytes. These HIV-1-infected individuals had stable CD4 cell counts for more than 1 year while on suppressive combination antiretroviral therapy.


RESULTS
The results demonstrate that CD4 central memory and naive cell populations contribute to the magnitude of CD4 T-cell reconstitution. CD4 central memory has a significant negative correlation with the percentage of CD38-activated CD8 T-cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This suggests that CD8 activation is important in CD4 recovery from a low CD4 T-cell nadir.
Kolber
Michael A
MA
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA. mkolber@med.miami.edu
D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1