In situ quantitation of lymph node helper, suppressor, and cytotoxic T cell
subsets in AIDS
GS Wood, BF Burns, RF Dorfman and RA Warnke
We have used the novel monoclonal antibodies 9.3 and anti-Leu-8 in
conjunction with other T cell markers to quantify T cell subpopulations in
the paracortex, mantle, and germinal center compartments of frozen sections
of lymph nodes from seven homosexual men with acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS) and five heterosexual controls. Antibody 9.3 allows
dissection of the Leu-2+ cytotoxic/suppressor subset (Tcs) into 9.3+
cytotoxic cells (Tc) and 9.3- suppressor cells (Ts). Anti-Leu-8 allows
dissection of the Leu-3+ helper subset (TH) into functionally distinct
subpopulations. The data indicate that the T cells in patients with AIDS
exhibit normal antigen expression but altered subset ratios. In this
series, the data suggested that the reversal of the paracortical TH-Tcs
ratio was due to an increase in Ts with a concomitant decrease in TH and
Tc. These changes were also reflected in a reversal of the normal
paracortical Tc-Ts ratio (3.0) to less than 1.0. Furthermore, the data
suggested a marked decrease in paracortical Leu-3+8+TH, which are known to
have inducer function in cellular immune reactions and exert feedback
inhibition of immunoglobulin production through a suppressor T cell
intermediary. In contrast, there was preservation of the Leu-3+8-TH
population within the germinal center. This T cell subset is known to help
B cell differentiation. This microenvironmentally specific constellation of
T cell subset alterations within lymph nodes may in part explain several of
the immunologic findings associated with AIDS.
Volume 67,
Issue 3,
pp. 596-603,
03/01/1986
Copyright © 1986 by The American Society of Hematology
