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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
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
CD4 immunophenotyping in HIV infection
David Barnett1, Brooke Walker, Alan Landay
1UK NEQAS for Leukocyte Immunophenotyping, Rutledge Mews, 3 Southbourne Road, Sheffield, S10 2QN UK. d.barnett@sheffield.ac.uk
Insights
Accurate CD4 cell enumeration is vital for managing HIV/AIDS. This overview discusses historical CD4 testing advancements and current challenges in developing cost-effective, reliable diagnostic methods for HIV-infected individuals.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Immunology
- Diagnostic Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The identification of immune cell subsets, such as CD4 cells, marked a significant advancement in immunology.
- This breakthrough coincided with the emergence of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, highlighting the clinical importance of CD4 cell counts.
- The evolution of HIV/AIDS and treatment strategies necessitates precise CD4 cell enumeration for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a historical perspective on the development of CD4 enumeration technologies relevant to HIV infection.
- To summarize the ongoing technological challenges in CD4 cell counting.
- To emphasize the need for affordable, reliable, and accurate CD4 enumeration methods for individuals living with HIV.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical developments in CD4 enumeration technologies.
- Analysis of current technological limitations and challenges.
- Synthesis of information related to HIV infection and CD4 cell counting.
Main Results:
- Significant advancements in CD4 cell identification have occurred alongside the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
- Current methods face challenges in meeting the demand for affordable, reliable, and accurate CD4 enumeration.
- The historical trajectory shows a continuous need for improved diagnostic tools.
Conclusions:
- Affordable, reliable, and accurate CD4 enumeration methods are critical for managing HIV infection.
- Overcoming current technological challenges is essential to meet the needs of the global HIV-infected population.
- Continued innovation in CD4 testing is crucial for effective HIV/AIDS care and treatment strategies.
Abstract:
The ability to rapidly identify immune cell subsets such as CD4 cells, which became possible around the same time as the onset of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, was one of the greatest advances in clinical and diagnostic immunology. The evolution of this global pandemic and the subsequent development of treatment strategies to prolong the life of infected individuals mean that it is now more crucial than ever that we develop affordable, reliable and accurate methods for the enumeration of CD4 cells. Here, we provide an overview of the historical developments in CD4 enumeration technologies that are related to HIV infection, and summarize the current technological challenges that must be overcome to meet the needs of those living with HIV infection.
