EVALUATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE BETWEEN γδT-CELL LEVELS AND CD3+CD4+ T-LYMPHOCYTE CONTENTS IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

Abstract

We have performed immunophenotyping of lymphocytes in 150 HIV-positive patients, by means of flow cytometry. All the persons under study were classified into three groups, depending on absolute contents of CD3+CD4+T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood, according to HIV infection staging in adults and adolescents, as amended by CDC (USA). It was revealed that, at each subsequent stage of disease, a decrease in absolute numbers of T-helpers is accompanied by drop in relative and absolute numbers of lymphocytes, as well as in total T-lymphocyte numbers, and decreased amounts of absolute cytotoxic T-lymphocytes levels, combined with increase in their relative contents, along with decreased CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ ratio, diminished levels of double-positive subpopulation, decrease in relative and absolute levels of αβТ-lymphocytes and significant drop in absolute levels of γδТ-cells, while their relative amounts remained normal. These findings demonstrate a pattern typical to the absence of immunological reactions in response to antigens persisting in the organism.