Th1/Th2 shift in HIV lymph nodes: No contribution of CD60 cells

Background: An expansion of CD8+60+ cells with Th2 type helper function has been observed in HIV-infected individuals. A Th1/Th2 shift in Late HIV inf ection might be related to the functional activity of this subset. Our obje ctive was to test the ability of lymph node (LN) lymphocytes to produce cyt okines of the Th1 and Th2 type. Patients and Methods: LN cells were stimulated with PMA in the presence of ionomycin and brefeldin A. After surface staining for CD4, CD8 and CD60 and intracellular staining for interferon gamma (IFN gamma), interleukin 2 (IL -2) or IL-4 and IL-10, the percentage of cytokine producing lymphocytes (CP L) was determined by flow cytometry. LN of nine individuals in the early st age of HIV infection were compared to Late stage patients. Results: CD4+ subset: in early stages of HIV infection the percentage of Th 1 CPL was 1.9 times higher than that of Th2 CPL. In Late stages of infectio n the Th1 responding cells were not found more frequently than Th2 cells. C D8+ subset: no Th1/Th2 shift was detected during early or late stages of HI V infection. CD60+ subset: a maximum of 32.1 +/- 7.8% of double positive ce lls of the CD8+60+ type produced Th2 type cytokines. A small percentage (<8 %) of CD60+ cells also produced Th1 cytokines. No shift in the cytokine pro duction was seen in early or Late stages of infection. Conclusion: At single cell Level a shift in cytokine production in IN cells can only be detected in the CD4+ subset, Thus, the CD60+ subset does not s eem to contribute to the putative Th1/TH2 shift attributed to the immunopat hogenesis of HIV-induced destruction of the immune system.