Niveles de linfocitos T CD4+CXCR3+; CD4+CCR6+ y CD4+CCR4+ en pacientes con infección por VIH-1/SIDA.

PIERI E; BRESER ML; LUNA N; DAVID D; RIVERO VE

Cordoba

Congreso; LXI Reunion Anual de la SAI; 2013

SAI

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) is characterized by a gradual immune dysfunction that progress to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The infection is associated with a gradual loss of T helper CD4+ populations that is related to AIDS progression. During last year different populations of T helper CD4 T cells named Th1, Th2 and Th17 have been described, populations that express the chemokine receptors  CXCR3, CCR4 and CCR6 respectively. In the present work we analyzed levels of CD4+ lymphocytes expressing these chemokine receptors in HIV1-AIDS patients. Two groups of HIV1+ patients were included: Group 1: 15 individuals with <500 CD4 cells/mm3 and Group 2: 15 individual with >500 CD4 cells/mm3.  A healthy control group was also included (n=7). Percentages and absolute numbers of CD4+lymphocytes expressing chemokine receptors (CXCR3, CCR4 and CCR6) were determined by flow cytometry. Values of CD4+ CXCR3 + lymphocytes were significantly decreased in samples from groups 1 and 2 when compared with values observed in samples from healthy individuals (G1: 89±17/mm3; G2: 188±30/mm3; C: 404±128/mm3; p<0.05). CD4+CCR6+ lymphocytes levels were significantly diminished in patients with respect to controls showing significantly decreased values in samples from Group 1 when compared to Group 2 (p<0.05) . (G1: 47±10/mm3; G2: 96±11/mm3; C: 190±19/mm3; p<0.05).  However, when CD4+CCR4+ lymphocytes levels were analyzed no significant differences were detected between patients and control individuals  (G1: 143±34/mm3; G2: 105±28/mm3; C: 127±111/mm3). Our results suggest that Th1 and Th17 populations are decreased in all HIV infection stages, whereas Th2 populations maintain their levels during the course of infection