Altered expression of L-selectin (CD62L) on polymorphonuclear neutrophils of children vertically infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1

The expression of the leukocyte adhesion molecule L-selectin (CD62L) on pol ymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and circulating levels of the soluble form of the receptor (sCD62L) were determined for a group of HIV-1-infected chi ldren, categorized as having mild or severe disease, and a group of uninfec ted control children. The fluorescence intensity of CD62L on PMN was signif icantly reduced in the HIV-1-infected children with mild disease compared t o the uninfected controls. The proportion of lymphocytes expressing CD62L, as well as their corresponding fluorescence intensities, was significantly reduced in both the mild and the severe disease groups compared to the unin fected children, while peripheral levels of sCD62L were significantly eleva ted in the HIV-1-infected children with mild and severe disease compared to the controls. Altered cell migration resulting from reduced expression of CD62L may be an important contributor to the increased susceptibility to se condary microbial infections seen in HIV-1-infected children.