LACK OF SELECTIVE V-BETA DELETION IN PERIPHERAL CD4-CELLS OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INFECTED INFANTS( T)

To investigate the possibility of superantigen-mediated deletions of T cells expressing particular T cell receptor Vbeta (TcR Vbeta) gene se gments during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, TcR Vbeta usage in CD4+ and CD8+ subsets was analyzed in a cohort of infants mat ernally infected by HIV and in a group of healthy neonates. We used a semi-quantitative anchored polymerase chain reaction technique togethe r with cytofluorographic analysis with anti-Vbeta monoclonal antibodie s. The representation of the 24 Vbeta families in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell s from normal neonates was very similar to that in adults. Preferentia l expression of Vbeta2 in the CD4+ subset was observed in both the neo nates and in healthy adults. The representation of the 24 Vbeta famili es in peripheral CD4+ T cells from the HIV-infected infants showed no selective Vbeta deletion, even when the CD4+ subset was globally deple ted. Moreover, the main characteristics of the control group (predomin ance of certain Vbeta families and Vbeta2 skewing towards the CD4+ sub set) were also present in all the HIV-infected infants.