CD80 and CD86 costimulatory molecules on circulating T cells of HIV infected individuals

The expression of CD80 and CD86 costimulatory molecules, typical for antige n presenting cells (APC), was measured on circulating T cells of 20 HIV-inf ected individuals and of 11 HIV-negative healthy controls. The CD80 and CD8 6 molecules were present on both circulating T subsets of HIV-infected indi viduals (mean of CD80 expression within CD4(+) T cells [CD80/CD4]: 5.0%; an d CD86/CD4: 2.6%; CD80/CD8 4.1% and CD86/CD8: 2.7%) and were associated wit h HLA-DR expression. Some CD80 and CD86 expression was also found in normal controls. and only the expression of CD86 was significantly (P < 0.05) inc reased on CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells of HIV-infected individuals. The expres sion of CD28 was decreased on T cells of HIV-infected individuals and was n egatively correlated to the expression of HLA-DR and CD86 (mean CD28 within CD3(+) T cells: HIV+ 29.5%, HIV- 67.6%, correlation coefficient, - 0.75 an d - 0.71, respectively). The more the disease proceeds, the less CD28 and t he more DR and CD86 are found on circulating T cells. This suggests that du ring HIV infection T cells themselves develop an antigen presenting phenoty pe by upregulating expression of HLA-DR, CD86 and CD80 molecules. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights Reserved.