Skip to main content

Analysis of the adult thymus in reconstitution of T lymphocytes in HIV-1 infection.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Haynes, BF; Hale, LP; Weinhold, KJ; Patel, DD; Liao, HX; Bressler, PB; Jones, DM; Demarest, JF; Gebhard-Mitchell, K; Haase, AT; Bartlett, JA
Published in: J Clin Invest
February 1999

A key question in understanding the status of the immune system in HIV-1 infection is whether the adult thymus contributes to reconstitution of peripheral T lymphocytes. We analyzed the thymus in adult patients who died of HIV-1 infection. In addition, we studied the clinical course of HIV-1 infection in three patients thymectomized for myasthenia gravis and determined the effect of antiretroviral therapy on CD4(+) T cells. We found that five of seven patients had thymus tissue at autopsy and that all thymuses identified had inflammatory infiltrates surrounding lymphodepleted thymic epithelium. Two of seven patients also had areas of thymopoiesis; one of these patients had peripheral blood CD4(+) T-cell levels of <50/mm3 for 51 months prior to death. Of three thymectomized patients, one rapidly progressed to AIDS, one progressed to AIDS over seven years (normal progressor), whereas the third remains asymptomatic at least seven years after seroconversion. Both latter patients had rises in peripheral blood CD4(+) T cells after antiretroviral therapy. Most patients who died of complications of HIV-1 infection did not have functional thymus tissue, and when present, thymopoiesis did not prevent prolonged lymphopenia. Thymectomy before HIV-1 infection did not preclude either peripheral CD4(+) T-cell rises or clinical responses after antiretroviral therapy.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Clin Invest

DOI

ISSN

0021-9738

Publication Date

February 1999

Volume

103

Issue

4

Start / End Page

453 / 460

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Thymus Gland
  • Thymectomy
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Immunology
  • Humans
  • HIV-1
  • HIV Infections
  • Female
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Haynes, B. F., Hale, L. P., Weinhold, K. J., Patel, D. D., Liao, H. X., Bressler, P. B., … Bartlett, J. A. (1999). Analysis of the adult thymus in reconstitution of T lymphocytes in HIV-1 infection. J Clin Invest, 103(4), 453–460. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI5201
Haynes, B. F., L. P. Hale, K. J. Weinhold, D. D. Patel, H. X. Liao, P. B. Bressler, D. M. Jones, et al. “Analysis of the adult thymus in reconstitution of T lymphocytes in HIV-1 infection.J Clin Invest 103, no. 4 (February 1999): 453–60. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI5201.
Haynes BF, Hale LP, Weinhold KJ, Patel DD, Liao HX, Bressler PB, et al. Analysis of the adult thymus in reconstitution of T lymphocytes in HIV-1 infection. J Clin Invest. 1999 Feb;103(4):453–60.
Haynes, B. F., et al. “Analysis of the adult thymus in reconstitution of T lymphocytes in HIV-1 infection.J Clin Invest, vol. 103, no. 4, Feb. 1999, pp. 453–60. Pubmed, doi:10.1172/JCI5201.
Haynes BF, Hale LP, Weinhold KJ, Patel DD, Liao HX, Bressler PB, Jones DM, Demarest JF, Gebhard-Mitchell K, Haase AT, Bartlett JA. Analysis of the adult thymus in reconstitution of T lymphocytes in HIV-1 infection. J Clin Invest. 1999 Feb;103(4):453–460.

Published In

J Clin Invest

DOI

ISSN

0021-9738

Publication Date

February 1999

Volume

103

Issue

4

Start / End Page

453 / 460

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Thymus Gland
  • Thymectomy
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Immunology
  • Humans
  • HIV-1
  • HIV Infections
  • Female
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes