Helper and suppressor T-cell function in HIV-infected hemophilia patients

Abstract

T-lymphocyte helper and suppressor functions were assessed in 61 hemophilia patients. Twenty one patients were HIV-negative (Group 1), 27 were HIV-positive without having AIDS-related complex (ARC)/AIDS (Group 2), and 13 had ARC/AIDS (Group 3). T, CD4-positive, or CD8- positive T lymphocytes were cocultured with B lymphocytes and pokeweed mitogen for 6 days and immunoglobulin producing cells were assessed in a reverse hemolytic plaque assay. In HIV-infected patients, T cells as well as the CD4-positive T cell subset exhibited reduced helper (P less than .01, Group 2; P less than .0005, Group 3) and elevated suppressor activity (P less than .02, Group 2; P less than .005, Group 3), whereas no significant difference was found between HIV-negative patients and controls. The number of CD4-positive cells was not correlated with CD4 cell function. CD4-positive cells showed no helper activity (less than 10% of control T cells) in 8/11 (73%), but an excessive suppressor activity (greater than 80% suppression of plaque formation) in 6/11 (55%) Group 3 patients. Our results show that defective helper and elevated suppressor functions of T cells in HIV-infected patients are caused not only by a change in the CD4/CD8 cell counts but also by functional abnormalities of the CD4-positive T-cell subset. These abnormal helper and suppressor functions may play a role in the development of the immunodeficiency state of AIDS patients.

Post-Transplant sCD30 and Neopterin as Predictors of Chronic Allograft Nephropathy: Impact of Different Immunosuppressive Regimens

“…To assess the helper activity of T cells, we compared immunoglobulinsecreting cell (ISC) formation in pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulated allogeneic cocultures of patient T cells and control B cells with ISC responses in PWM-stimulated cocultures of T and B cells of the same healthy control. Cell separations and PWM-stimulated allogeneic cocultures of control B cells with patient T cells or CD4+ T-cell subsets were performed as described previously (14,16,17). B-cell differentiation was assessed in a reverse hemolytic plaque assay.…”

ATG induction therapy: long-term effects on Th1 but not on Th2 responses

“…were performed as described previously [22][23][24]. B-cell differentiation was assessed in a reverse hemolytic plaque assay.…”

Feline immunodeficiency virus infection: an overview

“…Active pr(,grammed cell death, or al3optosis, is one important reason for this (Bishop el al., 1993;Ameisen e/ aL, 1994;Ohno el al., 1994;Holznagel et aL, 1995). Apart fi'om the quantitative decrease of CD4 + ceils, FIV-infected cats show a dyslhnction t,t immune cells as in HIV-infected humans (Clc,'ici el aL, 1989;Weimer et al, 1989;Ishida el al., 1990;Torten el al., 1991;Bishop, 1995).…”