HIV infection and aging: enhanced Interferon- and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha production by the CD8+ CD28- T subset

摘要

BackgroundT cells from HIV⁺ and aged individuals show parallels in terms of suppressed proliferative activity and interleukin-2 (I1-2) production and an increased number of CD8⁺ CD28^- T cells. In order to compare cytokine production from T cells from these two states, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells from HIV⁺ aged, and normal young donors (controls) were monitored for cytokine production by flow cytometry, quantitative PCR and ELISA upon activation by PMA and anti-CD3. In addition, the CD8⁺ T cell subsets CD28⁺ and CD28^- from the HIV⁺ and the aged groups were evaluated for cytokine production by flow cytometry, and compared with those from young controls.