title: [Expression of CD38 and HLA-DR on CD8+ T cells in pediatric AIDS patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the expression of CD38 and HLA-DR on CD8(+) T cells in pediatric AIDS patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the relationship of immune activation and disease progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-section study of 194 pediatric AIDS patients receiving HAART was carried out and 52 age-matched healthy children were recruited as control. The percentage of CD4(+), CD8(+), CD8(+)/CD38(+) and CD8(+)/HLA-DR(+) T cells was tested using flow cytometry, and HIV-RNA in plasma was detected by quantitative RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and ninety-four pediatric AIDS patients were divided into two groups according to the viral load: 59 patients with VL ≥ 400 copies/ml and 135 patients with VL < 400 copies/ml. The percentage of CD8(+)/CD38(+) and CD8(+)/HLA-DR(+) T cells of patients with VL ≥ 400 copies/ml was significantly higher than that of patients with VL < 400 copies/ml (P < 0.05). Of patients with VL < 400 copies/ml, the percentage of CD8(+)/CD38(+) T cells was nearly normal, and the percentage of CD8(+)/HLA-DR(+) T cells was higher than normal level (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between percentage of CD8(+)/CD38(+) and of CD8(+)/HLA-DR(+)T cells and viral load (R = 0.403, P = 0.03 for the former and R = 0.569, P = 0.09 for the later).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effective HAART could decrease immune activation of HIV-infected children significantly. And there was a positive correlation between percentage of CD8(+)/CD38(+) and of CD8(+)/HLA-DR(+)T cells and viral load, suggesting that the two indicators might be used as the substitution of viral load in resource-limited areas.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Chang-Zhong
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Tian-Sheng
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Li-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Mei-Xin
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Fu-Jie
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Nan-Ping
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D000293:Adolescent; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1