[T cell receptor diversity of CD8+ T lymphocytes and its association with viral load in individuals with HIV-1 infection].

Objective To determine the complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) length diversity of T cell receptor Vβ repertoires of CD8+ T lymphocytes and to explore its association with viral load in individuals with HIV-1 infection. Methods Separation of CD8+ T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was carried out by using immunomagnetic beads coated with anti-CD8 antibody. Total RNAs from the purified CD8+ T lymphocytes were isolated and used to perform polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifications in CDR3 of 22 T cell receptor (TCR) gene families. CDR3 diversity and its association with viral load in individuals with HIV-1 infection were analyzed. Results An average diversity for all CDR3 profiles in CD8+ T cells from 9 HIV-infected individuals was significantly different as compared to 7 age-matched healthy donors (P<0.05) with the HIV-infected individuals losing diversity in the CDR3 profiles. There was positive correlation between changes in TCR CDR3 diversity and viral load (r=0.771,P<0.05). The changes in CDR3 length diversity of Vβ families in HIV-infected individuals, particular in Vβ2, Vβ4, Vβ5, Vβ17, Vβ20, Vβ21, Vβ23, Vβ24, were statistically different from the healthy controls. Conclusion HIV-1 infection might induce the loss of TCR Vβ repertoire diversity and disrupt the CDR3 distributions within CD8+ T cells. There should be positive correlation between changes in TGR CDR3 diversity and the viral load in HIV-1 infected patients. Key words: CDS-positive T-lymphocytes; HIV-1; Receptors,antigen,T-cell