Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

New Tools to Expand Regulatory T Cells from HIV-1-infected Individuals
09:27

New Tools to Expand Regulatory T Cells from HIV-1-infected Individuals

Published on: May 30, 2013

Identification of dynamically distinct subpopulations of T lymphocytes that are differentially affected by HIV

J A Kovacs1, R A Lempicki, I A Sidorov

  • 1Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. jkovacs@nih.gov

The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|December 19, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection increases CD4 and CD8 T lymphocyte proliferation and death without impairing T cell production. Highly active antiretroviral therapy reduces this proliferation, indicating a reversible effect of HIV on T cell dynamics.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection profoundly impacts the immune system, particularly CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes.
  • Understanding T cell turnover dynamics is crucial for assessing HIV pathogenesis and treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of HIV infection on the proliferation and death rates of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes.
  • To determine the relationship between viral load and T cell dynamics.
  • To assess the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on T cell turnover.

Main Methods:

  • In vivo pulse labeling with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) in 17 HIV-infected patients.
  • Analysis of BrdU-labeled CD4 and CD8 T cells in blood and lymph nodes.
  • Mathematical modeling to identify rapidly and slowly proliferating T cell subpopulations.
  • Correlation analysis between viral load, HAART, and T cell proliferation/decay rates.

Main Results:

  • HIV infection leads to increased proliferation and death of both CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes by inducing entry into a rapidly proliferating subpopulation.
  • The percentage of rapidly proliferating CD4 and CD8 T cells significantly correlated with plasma HIV RNA levels.
  • HAART initiation resulted in a significant decrease in the percentage of rapidly proliferating CD4 and CD8 T cells.
  • Monocyte production was inversely related to viral load and increased with HAART.

Conclusions:

  • HIV infection increases CD4 and CD8 T lymphocyte turnover but does not impair T cell production.
  • Viral load is a key determinant of T cell proliferation in HIV-infected individuals.
  • HAART effectively reduces HIV-induced T cell proliferation, suggesting reversibility of these dynamics.

More Related Videos

In Vitro Assay to Evaluate the Impact of Immunoregulatory Pathways on HIV-specific CD4 T Cell Effector Function09:26

In Vitro Assay to Evaluate the Impact of Immunoregulatory Pathways on HIV-specific CD4 T Cell Effector Function

Published on: October 15, 2013

Assessing the Innate Sensing of HIV-1 Infected CD4+ T Cells by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Using an Ex vivo Co-culture System.08:11

Assessing the Innate Sensing of HIV-1 Infected CD4+ T Cells by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Using an Ex vivo Co-culture System.

Published on: September 1, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Special Features of Adaptive Immunity01:20

Special Features of Adaptive Immunity

The adaptive immune system, a crucial component of the overall immune response, offers a highly specialized defense against pathogens. It involves specific cell types and features, enabling it to combat infections effectively and efficiently.
The primary cell types involved in adaptive immunity are T cells and B cells. Each type has a unique role in defending the body against pathogens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. They identify and eliminate infected cells directly,...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...