Immunologic abnormalities related to antigenaemia during HIV-1 infection

The expression of phenotypic markers on T and B lymphocytes in long-term human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) seropositive, antigen negative patients, in seropositive, antigen positive individuals without AIDS and in seronegative intravenous drug abusers was examined by two colour flow cytometry. Seropositive, antigen positive patients showed decreased CD4+ lymphocyte numbers, causing lower CD4/CD8 ratios when compared to seropositive, antigen negative subjects. While CD4 CDw29+ (4B4) lymphocytes are selectively reduced in seropositive, antigen negative individuals, both CD4 CDw29+ and CD4 CD45R+ (2H4) lymphocytes are decreased when antigenaemia is present. An increased percentage of CD3 HLA DR+ activated T lymphocytes and of CD20+ (B1) Leu 8 negative activated B cells was seen in HIV-1 seropositive antigen positive patients. These results demonstrate that, in long-term seropositive individuals, antigenaemia is associated with peculiar phenotypic changes of lymphocyte subsets.