Combination antiretroviral therapy results in a rapid increase in T cell receptor variable region beta repertoire diversity within CD45RA CD8 T cells in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 disrupts the T cell receptor (TCR) variable region (V) beta repertoire in CD8 T cells by impairing thymic capacity and skewing postthymic cellular maturation. The TCR repertoire was examined using spectratyping of CDR3 length diversity within CD45RA and CD45RO CD8 T cells in HIV-infected and healthy children. In healthy children, CDR3 lengths displayed Gaussian distribution in both CD45RA and CD45RO subsets. Vbeta families in HIV-infected children displayed a large proportion of perturbations in both subsets. High virus load and advanced immunosuppression correlated with increased perturbations within CD45RA but not CD45RO CD8 T cells. After therapy and virus suppression, there was rapid reestablishment of Gaussian distributions in CD45RA cells. HIV-1-induced disruption of TCR diversity within CD45RA CD8 T cells correlates with disease progression. Suppression of viral replication by treatment results in the rapid correction of TCR diversity in this CD8 subset because of emergence of new T cells from the thymus.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Kou, ZC; Puhr, JS; Wu, SS; Goodenow, MM; Sleasman, JW

Published Date

  • February 1, 2003

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 187 / 3

Start / End Page

  • 385 - 397

PubMed ID

  • 12552422

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0022-1899

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1086/367674

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States