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Updated: Jul 21, 2026
In Vitro Assay to Evaluate the Impact of Immunoregulatory Pathways on HIV-specific CD4 T Cell Effector Function
Published on: October 15, 2013
Effect of HIV-1 infection on lymphocyte proliferation in gut-associated lymphoid tissue
A H Talal1, C E Irwin, D T Dieterich
1Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York City, New York, USA. aht2002@pop.med.cornell.edu
Insights
HIV-1 infection increases the proliferation of CD4+ T cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). However, activation levels in GALT and the proportion of circulating T cells entering the gut remain unchanged.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection impacts immune cell populations.
- Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) is a critical site for immune responses.
- Understanding lymphocyte dynamics in GALT during HIV-1 infection is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in proliferative and activated lymphocytes within the GALT.
- To compare these changes in HIV-1-infected individuals versus uninfected controls.
- To assess T cell trafficking between peripheral blood and the gut.
Main Methods:
- Quantified proliferative (Ki-67+) and activated (CD-69+, HLA-DR+, CD45RO+) lymphocytes.
- Analyzed samples from GALT and peripheral blood.
- Included 12 HIV-1-infected and 9 uninfected individuals.
Main Results:
- Increased percentage of proliferative GALT CD4+ T cells in HIV-1-infected subjects (p <.007).
- Proliferative T cells primarily located in the parafollicular regions of GALT.
- No significant difference in activated GALT lymphocytes; however, peripheral blood showed increased activation in HIV-1-infected individuals.
Conclusions:
- HIV-1 infection is associated with heightened CD4+ T cell proliferation within GALT.
- Peripheral blood T cell activation is increased in HIV-1 infection.
- Lymphocyte trafficking to the gastrointestinal mucosa is not significantly altered by HIV-1 infection.
Objective:
To determine the change in the percentage of proliferative and activated lymphocytes in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in HIV-1-infected subjects compared with that in uninfected controls.
Methods:
We measured the percentage of proliferative (Ki-67+) and activated (CD-69+, HLA-DR+, CD45RO+) lymphocytes from GALT and peripheral blood in chronically HIV-1-infected (12) and uninfected (9) individuals.
Results:
The percentage of proliferative GALT CD4+ T cells was increased in HIV-1-infected control subjects compared with that in uninfected controls (p <.007). Based on immunohistochemical staining, proliferative T cells were principally located in the parafollicular area surrounding lymphoid aggregates. The percentage of activated GALT lymphocytes, however, was not significantly different in HIV-1-infected individuals, whereas it was significantly increased in the peripheral blood of HIV-1-infected individuals. The percentage of peripheral blood lymphocytes trafficking to the intestine was also not significantly different in HIV-1-infected individuals compared with that in uninfected controls.
Conclusions:
CD4+ T cell proliferation in GALT is increased in HIV-1 infection without a significant alteration in the percentage of peripheral blood T cells trafficking to the gastrointestinal mucosa.
