Virus burden in long-term survivors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a determinant of anti-HIV CD8+ lymphocyte activity

J Infect Dis. 1995 Aug;172(2):329-39. doi: 10.1093/infdis/172.2.329.

Abstract

Persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for > 8 years were studied to delineate virologic and immunologic attributes of long-term survival. Whereas those with 300-700 CD4+ cells/microL often had circulating cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against HIV antigens, those with > 1000 CD4+ cells/microL did not. The subjects with > 1000 CD4+ cells/microL had low virus burden, low levels of Gag-specific CTL precursors, and minimal CD8+ cell activation. Overall, elevated levels of CD8+ cells, CD38 antigen expression on CD8+ cells, and anti-HIV functions were correlated with increased virus burden, provirus load, and HIV plasma RNA levels. A factor that suppressed HIV replication was spontaneously secreted from CD8+ cells of most subjects but not from those with high CD4+ cell counts. CD8+ cell activities, therefore, may reflect chronic viral stimulation of the immune system. Long-term survivors with high levels of CD4+ cells maintained control of viral replication but lacked the CD8+ cell activities.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • ADP-ribosyl Cyclase
  • ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antigens, CD / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, Differentiation / biosynthesis
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • HIV / isolation & purification*
  • HIV Seropositivity / immunology
  • HIV Seropositivity / virology*
  • HLA-DR Antigens / biosynthesis
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Survival Rate
  • Survivors
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • Viral Interference / immunology
  • Virus Cultivation
  • Virus Replication / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • CD8 receptor
  • DNA, Viral
  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • RNA, Viral
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • N-Glycosyl Hydrolases
  • ADP-ribosyl Cyclase
  • CD38 protein, human
  • ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1