@article{7874,
  keywords = {Adult, CD4-CD8 Ratio, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Cell Differentiation, Dendritic Cells, Female, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Humans, Immunity, Cellular, Interleukin-4, leprosy, Lymphocyte Activation, Male, Middle Aged, RNA, Viral, T-Lymphocyte Subsets, Viral Load},
  author = {Carvalho KI and Maeda SM and Marti L and Yamashita J and Haslett P and Kallas EG},
  title = {Immune cellular parameters of leprosy and human immunodeficiency virus-1 co-infected subjects.},
  abstract = {<p>Leprosy and human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) are examples of human infections where interactions between the pathogen and the host cellular immunity determine the clinical manifestations of disease. Hence, a significant immunopathological interaction between HIV-1 and leprosy might be expected. In the present study we explored several aspects of cellular immunity in patients co-infected with HIV-1 and Mycobacterium leprae. Twenty-eight individuals were studied, comprising four groups: healthy controls, HIV-1 and M. leprae co-infection, HIV-1 mono-infection, and M. leprae mono-infection. Subjects in the mono-infection and co-infection groups were matched as far as possible for bacillary load and HIV disease status, as appropriate. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were analysed using six- and seven-colour flow cytometry to evaluate T-cell subpopulations and their activation status, dendritic cell (DC) distribution phenotypes and expression of IL-4 by T cells. The co-infected group exhibited lower CD4 : CD8 ratios, higher levels of CD8(+) T-cell activation, increased V delta : V delta 2 T cell ratios and decreased percentages of plasmacytoid DC, compared with HIV-1 mono-infected subjects. Across infected groups, IL-4 production by CD4(+) T lymphocytes was positively correlated with the percentage of effector memory CD4(+) T cells, suggesting antigenically driven differentiation of this population of T cells in both HIV-1 and M. leprae infections. Co-infection with M. leprae may exacerbate the immunopathology of HIV-1 disease. A T helper 2 (Th2) bias in the CD4(+) T-cell response was evident in both HIV-1 infection and leprosy, but no additive effect was apparent in co-infected patients.</p>},
  year = {2008},
  journal = {Immunology},
  volume = {124},
  pages = {206-14},
  month = {2008 Jun},
  issn = {1365-2567},
  doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2567.2007.02756.x},
  language = {eng},
}