CD 8 + T Lymphocytes in the Lung of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Patients Harbor Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type

Human immunodeficiency virus-l (HIV-1) infection of CD8' lymphocytes has been described in several in vitro culture systems, but whether CD8' cells are a target and also serve as a reservoir for infection in vivo as yet is unknown. We addressed this issue in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related lower respiratory tract chronic inflammation, which is characterized by a massive influx of CD8' HIV-l-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Proviral load in lung T lymphocytes and their subpopulations was evaluated by using the DNA-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique on cells retrieved by bronchoalveolar lavage. To avoid the possibility that the presence of HIV-1 DNA could be caused by contaminating CD4+ cells, serial dilutions of highly purified CD8' cells were also analyzed by PCR. Our findings showed that lung CD8' cells harbor and express HIV-1. To explore the possible mechanisms leading to pulmonary CD8+ lymphocyte infection, we evaluated CD4