Close link between CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation defects in patients with human immunodeficiency virus disease and relationship to extended periods of CD4+ …

SF Sieg, JB Mitchem, DA Bazdar… - Journal of Infectious …, 2002 - academic.oup.com
SF Sieg, JB Mitchem, DA Bazdar, MM Lederman
Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2002academic.oup.com
T cell proliferation failure is commonly associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection. By examining T cell function on a single-cell basis, we found that CD4+ T cell
proliferation failure was often accompanied by CD8+ T cell proliferation defects in patients
with HIV disease. The defects are characterized by a proportional failure and reduced
efficiency of precursor T cell proliferation after stimulation. In this study, patients who
historically had low levels of circulating CD4+ T cells were most likely to demonstrate …
Abstract
T cell proliferation failure is commonly associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. By examining T cell function on a single-cell basis, we found that CD4+ T cell proliferation failure was often accompanied by CD8+ T cell proliferation defects in patients with HIV disease. The defects are characterized by a proportional failure and reduced efficiency of precursor T cell proliferation after stimulation. In this study, patients who historically had low levels of circulating CD4+ T cells were most likely to demonstrate cellular proliferation failure, regardless of current CD4+ T cell counts. In contrast, neither historical nor current plasma HIV RNA levels were predictive of proliferation failure. These results suggest that mechanisms of T cell proliferation failure are more complex than can be explained by the direct effects of HIV replication and that therapeutic intervention to avoid prolonged periods of CD4+ lymphopenia may be desirable for the preservation of immune function in patients with HIV disease.
Oxford University Press