T cell telomere length in HIV-1 infection: no evidence for increased CD4+ T cell turnover

Science. 1996 Nov 29;274(5292):1543-7. doi: 10.1126/science.274.5292.1543.

Abstract

Progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been related to exhaustion of the regenerative capacity of the immune system resulting from high T cell turnover. Analysis of telomeric terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length, a marker for cellular replicative history, showed that CD8(+) T cell TRF length decreased but CD4(+) T cell TRF length was stable during the course of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection, which was not explained by differential telomerase activity. This observation provides evidence that turnover in the course of HIV-1 infection can be increased considerably in CD8(+) T cells, but not in CD4(+) T cells. These results are compatible with CD4(+) T cell decline in HIV-1 infection caused by interference with cell renewal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / blood*
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / enzymology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / ultrastructure
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / enzymology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / ultrastructure
  • Cell Death
  • Cell Division
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Disease Progression
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV-1*
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / enzymology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / pathology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / ultrastructure
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Male
  • Matched-Pair Analysis
  • Telomerase / blood
  • Telomere / ultrastructure*

Substances

  • Telomerase