T-CELL FUNCTION IN-VITRO IS AN INDEPENDENT PROGRESSION MARKER FOR AIDS IN HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INFECTED ASYMPTOMATIC SUBJECTS

The predictive value of low T cell reactivity to CD3 monoclonal antibo dies for development of AIDS was evaluated and compared with low CD4() cell numbers and the presence of syncytium-inducing human immunodefi ciency virus (HIV) variants in 122 seropositive asymptomatic homosexua l men for 4.5 years. Low T cell reactivity was a strong predictor for progression to AIDS in a multivariate proportional hazards analysis us ing these markers as covariates at entry and as time-dependent covaria tes. The combination of the three markers was associated with developm ent of AIDS in 6 of 7 men within 15 months. In contrast, the group tha t lacked any of these markers had a very low risk (11%) for developing AIDS. In groups with one or two of these three markers, progression r ates were 33% and 66%, respectively. These data demonstrate that measu rement of T cell function in vitro is of value for staging of HIV infe ction and may be useful for monitoring therapy.