DICHOTOMY OF 2 CD8+ LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS IN HIV-INFECTION - DEPLETION OF CD8+ CD3- AND EXPANSION OF CD8+ CD3+ SUBSETS - CONSEQUENCE ON THE CD4 CD8 RATIO

In order to highlight the underlying mechanism(s) of the CD8 lymphocyte expansion in the HIV infection, two distinct CD8 subsets were analysed: T CD8(bright+) CD3+ with MHC-restricted activity, and non-T CD8(dim+) CD3-, which performs natural killer (NK) activity. It consists of a cross-sectional study including 168 HIV-infected patients (74 CDC stage II. 48 CDC stage III and 46 CDC stage IV) compared among them and to 60 healthy individuals. We observed an expansion of CD8+ CD3+ cells which masks a depletion of CD8+CD3-. The comparative study showed that the expansion of the CD8+CD3+ is relatively higher than that of total CD8+ lymphocytes and that the depletion of the CD8+CD3 subset is severe, begins early and remains constant through the HIV progression. The comparison of CD4/CD8 and CD4/CD8+CD3+ ratios showed that the latter could possibly be a better indicator in the HIV infection. The mechanism of inverted CD4 CD8 ratio in healthy individuals was also clarified. The CD8+CD3+, CD8+CD3- and CD4/CD8+CD3+ parameters would be more specific markers than total CD8 and CD4 CD8 ratio especially in therapy trials.