Increased number of CD4 cells able to bind to natural killer cell targets in the peripheral blood of AIDS related complex patients

Abstract

CD4 cells forming conjugates with natural killer target cells (K 562 cells) were measured in the peripheral blood of anti-HIV antibody positive AIDS related complex (ARC) patients and in three control groups (asymptomatic individuals at risk, normal healthy people and patients with acute hepatitis B). These CD 4 cells, which are unable to kill K 562 cells, were significantly increased in ARC patients as compared to the control groups. Our data indicate that classical CD 4 cells are partially replaced, in ARC patients, by a population of natural killer-target binding granular CD 4 lymphocytes, and suggest that the functional abnormalities of helper T cells in these patients may be in part a consequence of the relative predominance of these non IL- 2 and BCGF producing cells within the circulating CD 4 population.