title: Functional state of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and their role in the slow progression of HIV infection in pediatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate simultaneously the functional state of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes from Venezuelan HIV-1-infected pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children were assigned to subgroups of rapid progressors (RPs) and slow progressors (SPs), based on clinical features. To determine the degree of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte functionality, flow cytometry techniques were used, and diverse parameters of the functionality of these cells were characterized by ex vivo tests, such as expression of CD95/Fas and CD127, and frequency of apoptosis. In addition, we determined, in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells, HIV-specific proliferation and the production of interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), besides measuring  intracellular IFN-gamma in CD4+ T cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results indicate that several molecular and cellular mechanisms of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes are deteriorated in RPs in comparison with SPs and controls. Indeed, both types of T lymphocytes from RPs exhibited an increased expression of CD95/Fas (p < 0.01), a significantly reduced expression of CD127 (p < 0.01), and an augmented frequency of apoptosis (p < 0.01). Furthermore, T cells from these patients displayed a diminished capacity of mitogen proliferation (p < 0.05), a reduced percentage of IFN-gamma producing CD4+ T lymphocytes (p < 0.05), and a smaller capacity of IL-10, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma production (p < 0.01) in comparison with SP and control patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that the decline of the normal T lymphocyte molecular and cellular responses is related to a rapid progression and a decreased resistance to HIV-1 infection in children.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Distrito Capital, Venezuela. miguelacho1998@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Miguel Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alfonzo
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Luigina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Siciliano
authors.forename: Maria Graciela
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Alida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Juan Felix
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D053699:Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014687:Venezuela; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D053699:Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit; D019014:fas Receptor; D007371:Interferon-gamma