|
||
Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol 181, 1365-1372, Copyright © 1995 by Rockefeller University Press
ARTICLES |
MR Klein, CA van Baalen, AM Holwerda, SR Kerkhof Garde, RJ Bende, IP Keet, JK Eeftinck-Schattenkerk, AD Osterhaus, H Schuitemaker and F Miedema
Department of Clinical Viro-Immunology, Central Laboratory of The Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
To gain more insight into the role of HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in the pathogenesis of AIDS, we investigated temporal relations between HIV-1 Gag-specific precursor CTL (CTLp), HIV-1 viral load, CD4+ T cell counts, and T cell function. Six HIV-1-infected subjects, who were asymptomatic for more than 8 yr with CD4+ counts > 500 cells/mm3, were compared with six subjects who progressed to AIDS within 5 yr after HIV-1 seroconversion. In the long-term asymptomatics, persistent HIV-1 Gag-specific CTL responses and very low numbers of HIV- 1-infected CD4+ T cells coincided with normal and stable CD4+ counts and preserved CD3 mAb-induced T cell reactivity for more than 8 yr. In five out of six rapid progressors Gag-specific CTLp were also detected. However, early in infection the number of circulating HIV-1-infected CD4+ T cells increased despite strong and mounting Gag-specific CTL responses. During subsequent clinical progression to AIDS, loss of Gag- specific CTLp coincided with precipitating CD4+ counts and severe deterioration of T cell function. The possible relationships of HIV-1 Gag-specific CTLp to disease progression are discussed.
This article has been cited by other articles:
| TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|