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In Vitro Assay to Evaluate the Impact of Immunoregulatory Pathways on HIV-specific CD4 T Cell Effector Function
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Expression of CD28 on CD8+ and CD4+ lymphocytes during HIV infection

A Caruso1, A Cantalamessa, S Licenziati

  • 1Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Italy.

Scandinavian Journal of Immunology
|November 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

HIV infection alters T-cell immune markers. CD28 expression decreases on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, particularly in later stages, potentially explaining immune dysfunction in patients.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • CD28 is a crucial co-stimulatory molecule on T cells, essential for immune responses.
  • Interaction with B7 molecules on antigen-presenting cells drives T-cell proliferation and cytokine production.
  • HIV infection is known to cause profound immune system dysregulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression patterns of CD28 on CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in individuals at different stages of HIV infection.
  • To determine if alterations in CD28 expression correlate with disease progression in HIV/AIDS patients.

Main Methods:

  • Flow cytometry was used to quantify CD28 expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets.
  • Analysis was performed on samples from HIV-infected individuals across various disease stages (asymptomatic, AIDS, non-AIDS).

Main Results:

  • A significant reduction in the percentage of CD28-expressing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was observed during the asymptomatic stage of HIV infection.
  • This CD28 reduction was more pronounced in patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) compared to non-AIDS patients.
  • An increase in the absolute number of CD8+CD28- T cells was noted in HIV-infected patients, with higher counts in earlier disease stages (Stage A).

Conclusions:

  • Altered CD28 expression on T cells is an early feature of HIV infection.
  • The observed changes in CD28+ T cell subsets may contribute to the characteristic immune defects, including impaired cytokine production and T-cell responses, seen in HIV-infected individuals.

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