Vigano' A, Vella S, Principi N, Bricalli D, Sala N, Salvaggio A, Saresella M, Vanzulli A, Clerici M
Cattedra di Pediatria IV, Università di Milano, Ospedale Luigi Sacco, Milan, Italy.
AIDS. 1999 Apr 1;13(5):F29-34. doi: 10.1097/00002030-199904010-00001.
The thymus is the organ responsible for the maturation and selection of T lymphocytes and is thus pivotal in allowing the development of a functional immune system. Because in HIV infection cell-mediated immune responses are severely impaired, we studied the role of thymus in the control of the progression of HIV infection to AIDS.
Thymic volume was analysed by magnetic resonance imaging in 31 vertically HIV-infected children. Plasma HIV viral load and phenotypic and functional cellular immunity-defining parameters were examined in the same patients.
Thymic volume was not correlated with age or nutritional status; thymic volume was nevertheless correlated with CD4 T-lymphocyte counts and with the percentage and absolute number of CD45RA+CD62L+ (naive) T lymphocytes. In addition, the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to proliferate upon tetanus stimulation was directly proportional to thymic volume. Finally, a negative correlation was detected between thymic volume and HIV viral load.
Because low HIV plasma viraemia and preserved immune function are favourable prognostic indices in HIV disease, these data indicate that an immunological, thymic-dependent control of the progression of HIV infection might be possible, at least in vertically transmitted HIV infection.
胸腺是负责T淋巴细胞成熟和选择的器官，因此在功能性免疫系统的发育中起着关键作用。由于在HIV感染中细胞介导的免疫反应严重受损，我们研究了胸腺在控制HIV感染进展为艾滋病中的作用。
对31名垂直感染HIV的儿童进行磁共振成像分析胸腺体积。在同一患者中检测血浆HIV病毒载量以及表型和功能性细胞免疫定义参数。
胸腺体积与年龄或营养状况无关；然而，胸腺体积与CD4 T淋巴细胞计数以及CD45RA+CD62L+（幼稚）T淋巴细胞的百分比和绝对数量相关。此外，外周血单核细胞在破伤风刺激下增殖的能力与胸腺体积成正比。最后，检测到胸腺体积与HIV病毒载量之间呈负相关。
由于低HIV血浆病毒血症和保留的免疫功能是HIV疾病的良好预后指标，这些数据表明，至少在垂直传播的HIV感染中，对HIV感染进展进行免疫性、胸腺依赖性控制可能是可行的。
