Defective T suppressor-inducer cell function in human immune deficiency
virus-seropositive hemophilia patients
LJ Sjamsoedin-Visser, CJ Heijnen, BJ Zegers and JW Stoop
Van Creveld Kliniek, Medisch Centrum Berg en Bosch, Bilthoven, The
Netherlands.
In human immune deficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive hemophilia patients, a
low number of CD4 + lymphocytes is found, as well as a low CD4+/CD8+ ratio.
In previous studies, it has been shown that antigen- specific T-helper cell
(CD4+) function was present and no excessive antigen-specific T-suppressor
cell (CD8+) function could be demonstrated. In this report, we studied
another activity of CD4+ cells, namely the capacity to induce T-suppressor
cell activity. The results clearly show a selective dysfunction of CD4+
suppressor-inducer (Tsi) cell function. Since these HIV-seropositive
hemophilia patients showed the presence of activated B cells in the
peripheral circulation refractory to antigen-specific T-helper cell signals
and secreting specific antibodies spontaneously, we raised the hypothesis
that the activated B cells in the patients activate the Tsi cells in vivo.
This constant activation leads to a functional exhaustion of the Tsi cell
pool.
Volume 72,
Issue 5,
pp. 1474-1477,
11/01/1988
Copyright © 1988 by The American Society of Hematology
