Prince HE, Weber DM, Jensen ER. Spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation in HTLV-I/II infection reflects preferential activation of CD8 and CD16/56 cell subsets.
Clin Immunol Immunopathol 1991;
58:419-30. [PMID:
1705874 DOI:
10.1016/0090-1229(91)90132-t]
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Abstract
Previous studies have shown that lymphocytes from HTLV-infected persons spontaneously proliferate when cultured in vitro. We investigated which cell subsets become activated in this response. Mononuclear cells from 16 HTLV-seropositive former blood donors and 9 seronegative controls were cultured for 7 days; activation was then assessed by measuring DNA synthesis in cultured cells and by monitoring CD25 expression by CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, and CD16/56 lymphocyte subsets. Of the 16 cultures of HTLV + donor cells, 10 showed spontaneous proliferation (Prol + group) and 6 did not (Prol - group). Cytofluorometric analysis revealed a significant increase in the fractions of CD8 cells and CD16/56 cells expressing CD25 for the Prol + group, compared to the Prol- and control groups. Similarly, the fractions of CD25 cells expressing CD8 or CD16/56 were significantly increased in the Prol + group. Although neither the fraction of CD4 cells expressing CD25 nor the fraction of CD25 cells expressing CD4 were increased for the Prol + group, the modal fluorescence intensity value for CD25 expression by CD4 cells was increased, suggesting some CD4 cell activation occurred as well. Blastoid cells were, on average, 79% CD25 +, whereas the sum of CD4 + CD25 + (27%), CD8 + CD25 + (30%), CD19 + CD25 + (3%), and CD16/56 + CD25 + (35%) subsets was 95%; the presence of 17% CD8 + CD16/56 + cells accounted for most of this discrepancy. These findings indicate that spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation in HTLV infection reflects preferential activation of CD8 and CD16/56 cell subsets, apparently including the minor CD8 + CD16/56 + subset.
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