Subpopulations of T and B cells in perinatally HIV-infected and noninfected age-matched children compared with those in adults.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were quantified for the subsets of CD4, CD8, and CD19 lymphocytes by using CD45RA (2H4), CD29(4B4), CD57, CD5, CD10, Leu8, HLA-DR, and TCR gamma delta-1 monoclonal antibodies and dual color immunofluorescence. A comparative analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations was made among 52 HIV-infected and 50 age-matched control children and 30 HIV-seropositive and 27 negative control adults. A significant decrease in the CD4+CD45RA+ "naive" cells was much more marked in HIV-infected children than in HIV-infected adults. A significant percentage increase in the CD4+CD29+ "memory" cells was observed in HIV-infected children but not in infected adults; however, the absolute numbers were usually decreased in all age groups. The mean percentage and absolute numbers of CD4+CD7+ and CD4+Leu8+ cells were decreased in HIV-infected children, although usually not significantly. The CD3+TCR gamma delta-1+ did not show any change in the infected children tested. The mean percentage and absolute number of the CD8+HLA-DR+ cells increased significantly in HIV-infected persons of all ages. The CD8+CD57+ cells were increased in percentage and absolute number in HIV-infected children ages 1-4 and 4-8 years. In the adults, no change was noted in either the percentage or absolute number of CD19+CD5+ B cells, a finding similar to that noted in HIV-infected children above 1 year of age. Although adults showed a significant decrease in both percentage and numbers of CD5- B cells, an increase was noted in the 7- to 12-month-old HIV-infected children. The CD19+CD10+ cells showed a slight but significant decrease in the youngest age group and a significant increase in the older age groups of HIV-infected children. These findings indicate that several lymphocyte subpopulations are altered differentially during HIV infection in children of varying ages and in adults.