Characterization of CD8+ T cells and microenvironment in oral lesions of human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons with oropharyngeal candidiasis.

Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), the most common oral infection in human immunodeficiency virus-positive persons, correlates with reduced blood CD4+ T cells. In those with OPC, CD8+ T cells accumulate at the lamina propria-epithelium interface at a distance from the organism at the outer epithelium. The present study aimed to characterize the tissue-associated CD8+ T cells and tissue microenvironment in both OPC+ and OPC- persons.