Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Serum soluble CD8 molecule is a marker of CD8 T-cell activation in HIV-1 disease

1991; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 5; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/00002030-199107000-00003

1473-5571

Parunag Nishanian, Bo Hofmann, Yongxiao Wang, Anne L. Jackson, Roger Detels, John L. Fahey,

Immunodeficiency and Autoimmune Disorders

To characterize CD8 T-cell activation during HIV-1 infection we measured serum soluble CD8 (sCD8) levels longitudinally in seroconverters and in individuals with established HIV infection who were in different stages of illness. CD8 T-cell activation occurs very early in HIV infection. Serum sCD8 levels were elevated in 91.5% of the first seropositive samples in seroconverters. Furthermore, CD8 T-cell activation persists throughout HIV infection. sCD8 predicted the occurrence of AIDS in HIV-seropositive individuals and so the addition of serum sCD8 levels to CD4 T-cell measurements increased the power in predicting the onset of AIDS. The serum level of sCD8 was particularly relevant to the prediction of subsequent CD4 T-cell fall relatively early in infection, for example, in the 3 years after seroconversion. However, later in HIV infection, for example within 2 years prior to development of AIDS, sCD8 levels were less predictive. sCD8 correlated with levels of β2-microglobulin and neopterin, which reflect activation of cell types other than CD8. Thus, serum sCD8 level can be a useful marker of specific CD8 T-cell activation, and is an independent predictor of prognosis in HIV infection.