Immunoregulatory subsets of the T helper and T suppressor cell populations in homosexual men with chronic unexplained lymphadenopathy

• Published in: The Journal of clinical investigation 1984, Vol.73 (1), p.191-201
• Main Authors: NICHOLSON, J. K. A, MCDOUGAL, J. S, SPIRA, T. J, CROSS, G. D, JONES, B. M, REINHERZ, E. L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - immunology; Adult; AIDS/HIV; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Homosexuality; Humans; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Lymphatic Diseases - etiology; Lymphatic Diseases - genetics; Lymphatic Diseases - immunology; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Medical sciences; Phenotype; Pokeweed Mitogens - pharmacology; Syndrome; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - classification; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - immunology; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - classification; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - immunology
• ISSN: 0021-9738; 1558-8238
• DOI: 10.1172/JCI111190

Unexplained, generalized lymphadenopathy in homosexual men, which can be a prodrome to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is associated with impaired cell-mediated immunity, a low ratio of T helper-inducer to T suppressor-cytotoxic cells (defined by the T4 and T8 monoclonal antibodies), and hypergammaglobulinemia. We performed double-marker studies on T cells by using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (Ia, T17, TQ1, and Leu-8), which reportedly detect activation or functional subsets of the T4 and T8 T cell populations. The T4:TQ1- or T4:Leu-8- subset, which is the major helper subset for B cell responses, is normally represented in lymphadenopathy patients. A depression in the reciprocal subset, T4:TQ1+ or T4:Leu-8+, accounts for the T4 T cell defect. Similarly, the TQ1 and Leu-8 markers delineate the abnormality of T8 T cells: the T8:TQ1- or T8:Leu-8- subset is elevated, whereas the T8:TQ1+ or T8:Leu-8+ subset is normally represented. We found no evidence of excessive activation of T4 T cells by using the T17 or Ia monoclonal antibodies. We did find an overall increase in Ia-positive T cells; however, this was due to increased T8:Ia+ cells. In functional studies, immunoglobulin production induced by pokeweed was subnormal. Most lymphadenopathy patients had normal T helper cell function when combined with normal B cells. The dampened pokeweed responses could be partially explained by depression of the T4:TQ1+ (or T4:Leu-8+) subset (which has minor help-associated function) and/or greater than expected suppression. However, subnormal pokeweed responses could not be totally explained by immunoregulatory T cell abnormalities because we also found an intrinsic defect in the B cell responses of lymphadenopathy patients.