CD8 Cell Ratio Research Articles

NATURAL KILLER CELL ACTIVITY AND LYMPHOCYTE SUBPOPULATIONS DURING DOBUTAMINE INFUSION IN MAN

We have studied the effects of dobutamine on natural killer (NK) cell activity and the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood in 16 patients under general anaesthesia. Patients were allocated to receive either dobutamine (n = 9) or isotonic saline (n = 7) for 30 min. There was a significant decrease in the ratio of T-helper/inducer cells (CD4) to T-suppressor/cytotoxic cells (CD8) in all patients after induction of anaesthesia. Dobutamine infusion induced an increase in NK cell activity, accompanied by a selective increase in circulating NK cells. However, compared with preinfusion values, CD4:CD8 cell ratio did not change during and after dobutamine infusion. In the isotonic saline group, NK cell activity and CD4:CD8 cell ratio remained unchanged. These results suggest that dobutamine induced an increase in NK cell activity and alterations in lymphocyte subpopulations.

Increase in Activated T Cells and Reduction in Suppressor/Cytotoxic T Cells in Acute Rheumatic Fever and Active Rheumatic Heart Disease: A Longitudinal Study

In a prospective study, patients with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and active rheumatic heart disease (ARHD) showed a significant increase in CD4+ T cells, CD22+ B cells, and CD4:CD8 cell ratio but a significant decrease in the percentages of CD8+ and CD3+ T lymphocytes compared with patients with quiescent RHD (CRHD) or streptococcal pharyngitis (SP) and normal controls. The proportion of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R)+ (CD25+) cells was higher in peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures (both before and after phytohemagglutinin stimulation) of ARF and ARHD patients than in those of CRHD or SP patients or controls; this finding persisted up to 48 weeks. In ARF patients, the percentage of CD8+ cells returned to within normal range at 48 weeks. Furthermore, the percentage of IL-2R+ cells correlated positively with the percentage of CD4+ but not of CD8+ lymphocytes, suggesting that helper/inducer T cells are in an immunologically activated state and may account for aberrations in the distribution of lymphocyte populations in peripheral blood of ARF and ARHD patients.

HOST IMMUNOSUPPRESSION AFTER BLOOD TRANSFUSION AT THE OPERATION FOR GASTRIC CANCER AND AN ATTEMPT OF AUTOGENOUS BLOOD TRANSFUSION

The author measured changes in subsets of peripheral lymphocytes in patients with gastric cancer to observehow the postoperative host immunity is influenced by the transfusion. In the cases without blood transfusion, the CD11(+)CD8(+) cell ratio began to increase at the early time of operation, while the CD4(+)2H4(+) cell ratio decreased. After that, CD11(+)CD8(+) cell ratio returned to preoperative number. CD4(+)2H4(-) cell ratio decreased at the operation and prolonged for a certain period according to the degree of advancement of the disease and operative prceedure. Change of host immunity by blood transfusion performed in addition to surgery was then investigated in 11 stage I+II patients undergoing subtotal resection. Compared with the non-transfusion group, the CD4(+)2H4(-) cell ratio more decreased and the CD11(+)CD8(+) bright cell ratio more increased in the transfusion group, revealing prolonged immunosuppression in the transfusion group. On the other hand, in 17 patients receiving autogenous blood transfusion, CD11(+)CD8(+) bright cell ratio rather suppressed than in the blood transfusion group, and the CD4(+)2H4(-) cell ratio more increased. Although blood transfusion was found to lead to immunosuppressive responce in this study, the use of autogenous blood transfusion eliminated such response.

Histologic predictors of survival in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated Kaposi's sarcoma

The relationship between 22 histologic variables and survival was investigated in 93 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). All the patients were homosexual men in whom KS was the initial manifestation of AIDS. All patients were followed for at least 12 months or until death. Histologic specimens of the initial KS biopsy were reviewed in a blind manner by two of the authors and were evaluated for the presence of a number of histologic features. In a univariate analysis nodular lesions of KS ( v patch or plaque lesions), the absence of hemosiderin, the absence of irregular vascular spaces, and the presence of spindle cell nodules were all significantly associated with increased length of survival. Two variables previously shown to be related to survival (CD4:CD8 cell ratio, initial lesion on lower extremities) were included in a multivariate analysis (Cox model) in addition to the histologic variables. Complete data were avaiable from 85 patients. In the multivariate analysis a higher helper to suppressor T-cell ratio, initial lesion on lower extremities, presence of spindle cell nodules, and nodular histology ( v patch or plaque histology) were all significantly associated with increased length of survival. These data suggest that in AIDS-associated KS, as in reticuloendothelial neoplasms, histologic features may be useful in idenitifying prognostically different subgroups of patients.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated lymphomas: Clinical, pathologic, immunologic, and viral characteristics of 111 cases

The incidence of lymphomas in individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus has increased progressively since the beginning of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic. The present series includes 111 patients, all diagnosed and studied at one hospital in New York City. There were 108 men and three women; the average age was 39 years and male homosexuality was the predominant risk factor. The materials examined originated from 138 surgical specimens and 24 autopsies. There were 11 cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma and 100 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), a proportion strongly skewed in favor of the latter. Hodgkin's lymphoma in AIDS patients was characterized by advanced clinical stage, high histologic grade, and frequent bone marrow involvement. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in AIDS patients, in contrast to the general population, originated predominantly in extranodal locations (61 cases) versus locations in which the lymph nodes were the site of the primary tumors (39 cases). In the digestive tract, the unusual oral and anal primary locations were often noted and were possibly related to specific risk factors. There were 15 cases of NHL of the central nervous system, an incidence 14 times greater than that recorded in the general population. The majority of NHLs were of high histologic grade, Burkitt's and large cell immunoblastic, representing most of the cerebral and gastrointestinal tumors. All NHLs were of B-cell immunophenotype. Lymphadenopathies with the histologic features of human immunodeficiency virus infection, particularly of the late stage (type C), often preceded NHL. Probing for Epstein-Barr virus genome was more frequently positive in Hodgkin's lymphoma than in NHL. Immunologic evaluations showed severely depressed T cell counts and CD4 to CD8 cell ratios as well as markedly increased levels of antilymphocyte antibodies. Reflecting the background of profound immune deficiency, the AIDS-associated lymphomas were characterized by high aggressiveness, early tendency to generalization, frequent post-treatment relapse, and short periods of survival.

Preferential loss of Leu 8?, CD45R?, HLA-DR+ CD8 cell subsets duringin vitro culture of mononuclear cells from human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV)-seropositive former blood donors

Recent data from our laboratory showed that the CD4:CD8 cell ratio increased significantly during in vitro culture of unstimulated mononuclear cells (MC) from HIV-infected persons. To test the hypothesis that this increase reflected a decline in CD8 cell levels, changes in CD4 and CD8 cell levels during culture of MC were assessed quantitatively. These analyses were accomplished using a Spectrum III flow cytometer, which analyzes a constant volume (0.02 ml) of cell suspension. The number of cells counted within this volume (termed the sip count) thus reflects the cell number in the suspension. To establish day 0 sip counts, aliquots consisting of 200,000 lymphocytes were treated with monoclonal antibodies, resuspended in 1 ml of buffer, and analyzed. Also on day 0, identical cell aliquots were placed in microtiter wells and cultured for 3 days. Cells retrieved from individual wells were then analyzed as on day 0. The mean relative recoveries (RR) of lymphocytes, CD4 cells, and CD8 cells were significantly lower in the HIV group (N = 28) than in the control group (N = 26). For the HIV group, CD8 cell RR was significantly lower than CD4 cell RR. Dual-color analyses showed that CD4 cell loss in the HIV group did not occur preferentially within CD4 subsets defined by Leu 8 or CD45R expression. Similarly, CD8 cell loss did not occur preferentially within CD8 subsets defined by Leu 7 expression. In contrast, CD8 cell loss did preferentially affect Leu 8-, CD45R-, and HLA-DR+ CD8 subsets, compared to the reciprocal CD8 subsets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)