EXPRESSION OF ADHESION MOLECULES AND CD28 ON T-LYMPHOCYTES DURING HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION

Adhesion molecules, which play a major role in lymphocyte circulation, have not been well characterized in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV ) infection. T-lymphocyte populations, including CD3, CD4, CD28, and a dhesion molecules (L selectin, LFA-1, VLA-4, and ICAM-1) were measured by flow cytometry in a cross-sectional study of 100 HIV-infected and 49 HIV-seronegative adults. HIV-infected adults had lower numbers of C D3(+) lymphocytes expressing L selectin (P < 0.0001) and VLA-4 (P < 0. 01) and higher numbers of CD3(+) lymphocytes expressing LFA-1(bright) (P < 0.002) than did HN-negative adults. By CD4(+)-lymphocyte count ca tegory (>500, 200 to 500, or <200 cells/mu I), HIV-infected adults wit h more advanced disease had lower percentages of CD3(+) lymphocytes ex pressing L selectin and VLA-4 and higher percentages of CD3(+) lymphoc ytes expressing LFA-1. The percentages of CD3(+) CD28(+) lymphocytes a nd of CD3(+) L selectin(+) lymphocytes were positively correlated (Spe arman coefficient = 0.86; P < 0.0001), and the percentage of CD3(+) CD 28(+) lymphocytes and the CD3(+) LFA-1(bright) lymphocyte/CD3(+) LFA-1 (dim) lymphocyte ratio were negatively correlated (Spearman coefficien t = -0.92; P <0.00001), The results of this study suggest that HIV inf ection is associated with altered expression of adhesion molecules.