CD4⁺+ Lymphocytes in Perinatal Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection: Evidence for Pregnancy-Induced Immune Depression in Uninfected and HIV-infected Women

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases 1995-11, Vol.172 (5), p.1221-1227
• Main Authors: Rich, Kenneth C., Siegel, Joan N., Jennings, Cheryl, Rydman, Robert J., Landay, Alan L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ADP-ribosyl Cyclase; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1; AIDS; AIDS/HIV; Antigens; Antigens, CD - blood; Antigens, Differentiation - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; CD4 Antigens - blood; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cohort Studies; Female; HIV; HIV infections; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV Seronegativity - immunology; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Immunophenotyping; Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis; Isoantigens; Leukocyte Common Antigens - blood; Lymphocytes; Major Articles; Medical sciences; Membrane Glycoproteins; N-Glycosyl Hydrolases - blood; Phenotypes; Postpartum Period - immunology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy - immunology; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - immunology; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - virology; T lymphocytes; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - immunology; Women
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/172.5.1221

Immune function changes during pregnancy and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. T helper function and phenotypes in HIV-infected and -uninfected pregnant and postpartum women and nonpregnant uninfected control women were studied. T helper function was assessed by interleukin-2 (IL-2) production in vitro and three-color flow cytometry. All uninfected nonpregnant subjects, 74% of uninfected pregnant subjects, and only 54% of HIV-infected pregnant subjects responded to all stimuli. All uninfected subjects 2-6 months postpartum had normal function versus 27% of infected subjects (trend P < .001). Uninfected pregnant subjects had reduced levels of CD4⁺CD45RA⁻RO⁺(memory) and elevated levels of CD4⁺CD45RA⁺RO⁻ (naive) lymphocytes. Infected pregnant subjects had elevated levels of memory, reduced levels of naive, and increased levels of CD4⁺-DR⁺CD38⁺ (activated) lymphocytes. Increased CD4⁺DR⁺CD38⁺ cells correlated best with poor IL-2 function, HIV infection, and being postpartum (R² = .79). Thus, T helper function and phenotypes are altered in pregnancy and return to baseline postpartum in uninfected but not HIV-infected women.