Objective: To evaluate the expression of CD49d, CCR9, CD62L and CCR5 on CD4+ T cells in AIDS patients before and after HAART.
Methods: The study was performed in 42 cases of AIDS patients and 18 cases of healthy controls. The expression of CD49d, CCR9, CD62L and CCR5 on CD4+ T cells, and CD45RO on CD4+ CCCR9+ and CD4+ CCR5+ T cells in AIDS patients and healthy controls were analysed by Flow cytometry. Software BD FACSDiva was used to calculate the percentage of expression.
Results: The number of peripheral CD4+ T cells in group pre-HAART was decreased compared with group HAART (P < 0.01); the frequency of CD3+ CD4+, CD4+ CCR9+, CD4+ CCR5+ T cells in group pre-HAART were decreased compared with group HAART (P < 0.01), the frequency of CD4+ CD49d+, CD4+ CD62L+, CD4+ CCR9+ CD45RO , CD4+ CCR9+ CD45RO- ,CD4+ CCR5+ CD45RO+, CD4+ CCR5+ CD45RO- T cells in group pre-HAART were significantly decreased compared with group HAART (P < 0.001); the frequency of CD3+ CD4, CD4+ CD62L+, CD4+ CCR5+ T cells in group HAART were significantly decreased compared with group HIV-neg (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: Not only the number but the function of CD4' T cells was impaired in AIDS patients: the lower expression frequency of gut homing receptor molecule CD49d and CCR9,1ymph node homing molecule CD62L, coreceptor molecule CCR5. HAART can partially reverse this pathological phenomena. CD49d, CCR9 and CD62L may be suggested to indicate the progression of AIDS and immunologic reconstitution after HAART.