Quantitation of apolipoprotein epsilon gene expression by competitive polymerase chain reaction in a patient with familial apolipoprotein E deficiency.

A simple method of obtaining semiquantitative and reliable data on apolipoprotein (apo) sigma gene expression is described. We detected apo sigma specific sequences by reverse transcription (rT)-PCR. For quantitative measurement, an apo sigma DNA standard was produced allowing the development of a competitive PCR-method.

Differential expression of bcl-2 and susceptibility to programmed cell death in lymphocytes of HIV-1-infected individuals.

The bcl-2 protooncogene encodes an inner mitochondrial membrane protein that blocks programmed cell death. There is now increasing evidence that regulation of bcl-2 expression is a determinant of life or death in normal lymphocytes. In this study, we examined bcl-2 expression in lymphocytes from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected and healthy subjects by flow cytometry.

Mechanism of gamma sigma T-cell-mediated inhibition of stem cell differentiation in vitro: possible relevance for myelosuppression in HIV-infected individuals.

We investigated whether gamma delta T cells contribute to the suppression of myelopoiesis in HIV infection. Freshly isolated gamma delta T cells from HIV seropositive patients suppressed CFU-GM growth in vitro. Preactivation of gamma delta T cells with IL-2 and/or IL-15 further reduced the number of CFU-GM.

Increase in Vdelta1+ gammadelta T cells in the peripheral blood and bone marrow as a selective feature of HIV-1 but not other virus infections.

Dysregulation of T-cell receptor (TCR) alphabeta bearing lymphocytes and an increase in Vdelta1+ gammadelta T cells are typical features of HIV-1 infection. However, the role of gammadelta T cells remains unclear. Therefore, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 103 HIV-1-infected patients were investigated with respect to expression of Vdelta1.

Demonstration of the Th1 to Th2 cytokine shift during the course of HIV-1 infection using cytoplasmic cytokine detection on single cell level by flow cytometry.

Objective: To characterize changes of Th1/Th2 cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that occur during the course of HIV infection by cytoplasmic cytokine staining on single cell level.

Design And Methods: Mitogen-stimulated PBMC from 16 healthy donors, 18 HIV-1-infected individuals without AIDS and 14 patients with AIDS were stained intracellularly with fluorescein-labelled MAb against interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10 and interferon (IFN)-gamma. Additionally, co-staining of CD4+ T-cell, CD8+ T-cell, natural killer (NK) cell, B-cell and monocytic markers was performed.