ISSN:
1432-1440
Keywords:
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
;
Human immundeficiency virus
;
Apoptosis
;
Fas antigen (CD95)
;
p24 antigen
;
Immune complex dissociation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Active T cell suicide (apoptosis) is supposed to be involved in the CD4+ T cell depletion in the course of HIV infection. We investigated the expression of the apoptosis-related antigen Fas on CD4+ T cells from 25 HIV-positive individuals (CDC I-III) and 8 HIV-negative controls by two-colour flowcytometry. In addition, we evaluated: total CD4 count, HIV p24 antigen concentration in serum after immune complex dissociation, and clinical course of infection in HIV-positive individuals. We found a significant increase in mean Fas expression on CD4+ T cells from HIV-positive individuals compared to HIV-negative individuals (85.84±14.92% vs. 64.28±7.59%, P〈0.001). Within the HIV-positive group the increase in Fas expression was correlated with the decline in CD4 count (r=−0.76, P〈0.001), p24 antigen concentration in serum after immune complex dissociation (r=0.67, P〈0.001), and CDC stage (r=0.73, P〈0.001). The upregulation of Fas antigen on CD4 cells is associated with CD4 depletion and other virological and clinical marker of disease progression in HIV infection.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00196352
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