Expression of activation surface markers, interleukin-2 synthesis and apoptosis rate in fresh or cultured lymphocytes from HIV-infected children.

In 2 groups of HIV-infected children aged from 7 to 10 years (ARC and AIDS, respectively) the following immune markers: % expression of CD69, CD25, HLA-DR activation surface determinants, IL-2 synthesis, rate of apoptosis were tested in non stimulated, PHA-stimulated or PHA and IL-12-stimulated T cell cultures. In all HIV-originated cells a decrease of CD69 expression and an increase of CD25 and HLA-DR expression were found. A strong correlation could be noticed between the clinical stage of the AIDS infection and the in vitro IL-2 production and the percentages of apoptotic cultured cells. IL-12 supplementation of PHA-stimulated cell samples restored the IL-2 synthesis and reduced the apoptosis rates only in the ARC-group, but not in the AIDS-group. The significance of the present data in the clinical and therapeutic monitoring of HIV infection among low-aged people are discussed.