       Document 0683
 DOCN  M9620683
 TI    Alterations of T-cell receptor variable region expression in human
       immunodeficiency virus disease.
 DT    9602
 AU    McCoy JP Jr; Overton WR; Blumstein L; Baxter JD; Gekowski KM; Donaldson
       MH; Department of Pediatrics, Cooper Hospital/University Medical;
       Center, Camden, New Jersey, USA.
 SO    Cytometry. 1995 Mar 15;22(1):1-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96090275
 AB    Since only a small percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes is infected at any one
       time during the course of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, a
       question central to the pathogenesis of HIV is whether or not the
       depletion of CD4+ lymphocytes is a random or selective event. The
       majority of peripheral blood T lymphocytes use alpha and beta variable
       chains as components of their T-cell receptor (TCR) complex. Depletion
       of CD4+ T lymphocytes from the peripheral blood may be dependent on the
       V beta chain expressed by the CD4+ cell, based on the hypothesis that
       HIV may encode a superantigen. Peripheral blood from normal controls and
       HIV+ patients was studied for alterations in the expression of various V
       beta chains of the TCR. Three-color flow cytometry was used to determine
       the expression of V beta 2, V beta 3, V beta 8, V beta 13, and V beta 19
       on all lymphocytes and on both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes independently.
       Alteration of the V beta chains in HIV+ disease was analyzed as a
       function of absolute CD4 count and Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
       stage of the patient. These data suggest that the loss of T helper (CD4)
       lymphocytes during the course of HIV disease may be a selective event.
       These data are consistent with the hypothesis that selective depletion
       of CD4+, V beta 19+ lymphocytes may be due to the encoding of a
       superantigen by HIV. Furthermore, using multicolor flow cytometry and
       stratifying patients by absolute CD4 counts (or stage of disease) may
       reveal immunologic changes that might otherwise be overlooked.
 DE    Adult  Antibodies, Monoclonal  *Antigenic Variation  CD4 Lymphocyte
       Count  CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes  Female  *Flow Cytometry  Human  HIV
       Infections/*IMMUNOLOGY  Male  Middle Age  Receptors, Antigen,
       T-Cell/*IMMUNOLOGY  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  CLINICAL TRIAL  JOURNAL
       ARTICLE  RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

