Expression of CD69 on T‐cell subsets in HIV‐1 disease

Abstract

CD69 is the earliest activation marker newly synthesized and expressed during T lymphocyte activation. In this study, a whole‐blood flow‐cytometry‐based assay was used to assess expression of the activation antigen CD69 on CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes, and the co‐expression of CD69 and CD28 on T cells. The expression of CD69 was studied in both unstimulated and in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)‐ or anti‐CD₃/CD₂₈‐stimulated, 4‐h culture, samples. The production of IL‐2, IFN‐γ or both cytokines, in CD69⁺ T cells, in response to Staphylococcus enterotoxin B was also tested. Fifty‐three HIV‐1‐infected and 21 healthy volunteers participated in this study. In both PHA‐ and anti‐CD₃/CD₂₈‐stimulated cultures the percentage of CD69 on CD3⁺CD4⁺ T cells was significantly lower in AIDS (and non‐responders to HAART) versus healthy controls and the other HIV‐1(+) groups. A decrease of CD69⁺CD28⁺ T cells after PHA or MoAbs stimulation is noticed in AIDS. No difference in cytokine production was noticed between healthy volunteers and HIV‐1(+) patients. Our results suggest that the expression of CD69 is affected only in the AIDS stage and in the non‐responders to HAART patients.

• AIDS
• cytokines
• cytometry
• HAART
• HIV‐1

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr A. Loutradi, Head of the Thalassemia Department, who kindly provided samples of healthy control volunteers. We also thank Mrs L. Sergiani and Mr C. Christoforidis for excellent technical assistance.