T cell selection and differentiation in AIDS disease: the model of HIV-discordant monozygotic twins.

Authors :: Agrati C
Gioia C
Soldani F
Martini F
Antinori A
Poccia F
Source :: Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents [J Biol Regul Homeost Agents] 2006 Jan-Jun; Vol. 20 (1-2), pp. 24-8.
Publication Year :: 2006
Abstract: The model of monozygotic twins has been repeatedly studied to control the genetic and age-specific effects on HIV disease. Focusing on this natural model, the expression of CD27/CD45RA differentiation markers and the distribution of the Vbeta TCR repertoire was analyzed on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. In our HIV-discordant monozygotic twins, a significant reduction of naive T cells and a parallel accumulation of effector/memory T cells was induced by HIV infection, as well as a skewing of T cell repertoire evidenced by VbetaTCR analysis. The block of HIV replication by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) restored most of the T cell maturation and selection process, with some exception among CTL differentiation and repertoire. Altogether, the model of HIV-discordant monozygotic twins is a valuable tool showing that HAART is not able to completely restore the CTL profile.

Subjects :: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome pathology
Cells, Cultured
Humans
Models, Biological
Phenotype
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta immunology
T-Lymphocytes pathology
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome immunology
Cell Differentiation immunology
T-Lymphocytes immunology
Twins, Monozygotic immunology

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