Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Induces Apoptosis in CD4 super(+) but Not in CD8 super(+) T Cells in Ex Vivo-Infected Human Lymphoid Tissue

• Published in: Journal of virology 2000-09, Vol.74 (17), p.8077-8084
• Main Authors: Grivel, J, Malkevitch, N, Margolis, L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CD4 antigen; CD8 antigen; human immunodeficiency virus 1; lymphoid tissue
• ISSN: 0022-538X
• DOI: 10.1128/JVI.74.17.8077-8084.2000

Progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease is associated with massive death of CD4 super(+) T cells along with death and/or dysfunction of CD8 super(+) T cells. In vivo, both HIV infection per se and host factors may contribute to the death and/or dysfunction of CD4 super(+) and CD8 super(+) T cells. Progression of HIV disease is often characterized by a switch from R5 to X4 HIV type 1 (HIV-1) variants. In human lymphoid tissues ex vivo it was shown that HIV infection is sufficient for CD4 super(+) T-cell depletion. Here we address the question of whether infection of human lymphoid tissue ex vivo with prototypic R5 or X4 HIV variants also depletes or impairs CD8 super(+) T cells. We report that whereas productive infection of lymphoid tissue ex vivo with R5 and X4 HIV-1 isolates induced apoptosis in CD4 super(+) T cells neither viral isolate induced apoptosis in CD8 super(+) T cells. Moreover, in both infected and control tissues we found similar numbers of CD8 super(+) T cells and similar production of cytokines by these cells in response to phorbol myristate acetate or anti-CD3-anti-CD28 stimulation. Thus, whereas HIV-1 infection per se in human lymphoid tissue is sufficient to trigger apoptosis in CD4 super(+) T cells, the death of CD8 super(+) T cells apparently requires additional factors.