Implications of the accumulation of CXCR5 NK cells in lymph nodes of HIV-1 infected patients.

Background: B cell follicles are immune-privileged sites where intensive HIV-1 replication and latency occur, preventing a permanent cure. Recent study showed that CXCR5 NK cells in B cell follicles can inhibit SIV replication in African green monkeys, but this has not been reported in HIV-1 infected patients.

Methods: Lymphocytes and tissue sections of lymph node were collected from 11 HIV-1 positive antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive and 19 HIV-1 negative donors.

NLRP3 inflammasome induces CD4+ T cell loss in chronically HIV-1-infected patients.

Chronic HIV-1 infection is generally characterized by progressive CD4+ T cell depletion due to direct and bystander death that is closely associated with persistent HIV-1 replication and an inflammatory environment in vivo. The mechanisms underlying the loss of CD4+ T cells in patients with chronic HIV-1 infection are incompletely understood. In this study, we simultaneously monitored caspase-1 and caspase-3 activation in circulating CD4+ T cells, which revealed that pyroptotic and apoptotic CD4+ T cells are distinct cell populations with different phenotypic characteristics.

[Clinicopathologic correlation between CD4-positive T lymphocyte counts and superficial lymphadenopathy in HIV-positive/AIDS patients].

Objective: To explore the clinicopathological correlation between CD4(+) T lymphocyte count and superficial lymphadenopathy HIV/AIDS patients.

Methods: A total of 1066 HIV/AIDS patients were included in this study. The incidence of superficial lymphadenopathy, peripheral blood CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts and histological features of superficial lymphadenopathy were analyzed.