Objective: To study the pathogenic role of Fas/CD95 in HIV-1 infection subjects, and to investigate the effects of HIV on plasma levels of sFas and the expression of CD95 on different CD4(+) T lymphocyte subpopulations.
Methods: Four-color flow cytometry was used to determine the expression of CD95, CD45RO, CD45RA on CD4(+ )T lymphocyte in peripheral blood from HIV-1 infection subjects and serum Fas levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Result: Compared with healthy controls, serum Fas levels were significantly increased (P<0.05) in HIV group and positively correlated with the disease progress. The expression of CD95 on naive T-lymphocyte subsets was increased whereas that on memory T-lymphocyte subsets was decreased.
Conclusion: Fas plays an important role in the deletion of CD4(+) T-lymphocyte during HIV-1 infection. Further understanding of the relationship between Fas/CD95 and CD45RO/CD45RA may help to predict the progression of the disease and the clinical outcome.