LYMPHOCYTE IMMUNOREGULATORY CELLS PRESENT IN SEMEN FROM HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS (HIV)-INFECTED INDIVIDUALS - A REPORT FROM THE HIV HETEROSEXUAL TRANSMISSION STUDY

The purpose of this study was to determine the types and distribution of immune subsets present in semen from human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV)-infected (HIV+) individuals and to compare these values with thos e measures in semen from HIV-negative (HIV-) individuals, To accomplis h this, a direct three-color monoclonal antibody labeling technique wa s employed to identify immune cells in fresh ejaculates, Once labeled, the percent of each immune subset present in the ejaculate was determ ined by flow cytometric analysis. The percent of CD3(+) cells present in the semen of the HIV+ group showed no significant difference when c ompared with semen from the HIV- group, Analysis of the CD4(+) subset yielded a significantly lower percent in the HIV+ group than in the HI V- group. The analysis of the CD8(+) subset yielded a higher percent o f cells present in semen from HIV+ individuals, The CD8 higher value a long with lower CD4 value results in a lower CD4/CD8 ratio in the HIV group, Further subset studies showed that the percent of cells expres sing naive (CD4(+)CD45RA(+)) and memory (CD4(+)CD45R0(+)) markers was lower in the HIV+ group. This study provides additional data supportin g the utility of flow cytometry and monoclonal antibodies to immunophe notypic cells present in semen ejaculates, It is also the first report ed application of the technique to a disease-based model and may be us eful to better understand issues of mucosal immunity and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc .