title: [The correlation between HLA-DR or CD38 expression in CD8(+)T cells and CD4(+)T cells count in treatment-naive HIV/AIDS patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the correlation between CD4(+)T cell count and HLA-DR or CD38 expression on peripheral CD8(+)T cells in treatment-naive Chinese HIV/AIDS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 471 treatment-naive HIV-infected patients and 53 healthy volunteers were enrolled. HLA-DR or CD38 expression on peripheral CD8(+)T cells, CD4(+)T cell count, naive CD4(+)T cell subsets and CD28 expression on T cells were measured by flow cytometry. Plasma HIV RNA load was quantified by real-time PCR (COBAS TaqMan RT-PCR). Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's rank correlation test were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD38 expression intensity on CD8(+)T cells was negatively correlated with CD4(+)T cell count (r = -0.53, P < 0.001) and naive CD4(+)T cell count (r = -0.48, P < 0.001). CD38 expression on CD8(+)T cells also displayed significantly negative correlation with CD28 expression on CD8(+)T cells (r = -0.46, P < 0.001). HLA-DR expression on CD8(+)T cells did not show significant correlation with CD4(+)T cell count. Only weak positive correlation was found between CD38 intensity on CD8(+)T cells and plasma HIV RNA load.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with HLA-DR, CD38 expression on CD8(+)T cells shows more significant negative correlation with CD4(+)T cell count in treatment-naive patients. CD38 and HLA-DR may play different roles on the persistent immune activation in HIV infection.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Zhifeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yanling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaojing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Taisheng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1